All Access: The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers

I love this book. There is a ton of info but writer/designer Stefan Bucher has layed it out in an eye-catching, extremely functional way and I appreciate that. The insight into the designers lives and working process is something you just won't find in another book. I find it inspiring for us wannabe designers! As an artist or designer, this is a must-read!

After much time reading books on what seems like my weakest attribute (business acumen), I decided to treat myself to a book that was focused on what I love: design. In September I stumbled upon a book by designer, Stefan Bucher, called "All Access, The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers." This book was a rather fortuitous find, but it re-awakened my interest in the joy of making things. I read and reflected upon the content in it exclusively for a number of weeks. This is particularly rare for me, as I generally have about a dozen books on the go, all in varying stages of completion. It feels as though the design community has recently experienced a deluge of monographs which take on either a hero-worshiping or somewhat self-indulgent nature. Although he's clearly excited by the people he chronicles in his book, Stefan manages to stem any kind of adulation, instead breaking his studies into small chapters. Each of these passages works to illustrate the challenges real practitioners of design have struggled with, and how they have come to find their voice through their work. If anything was difficult for me in reading this book, it was in keeping names and bodies of work straight. The vast collection of gifted designers and their wide ranging oeuvres, felt a little like a crash course that I couldn't quite process in time. As a result, I've been re-reading the book in fits and spurts since the fall, and have referenced it extensively in discussions ever since. To read more: http://www.ideasonideas.com/2006/01/reconsidering_design/

After seeing Stefan's presentation at the recent San Diego Y Conference, I had to read his book. In addition to an awesome layout and beautiful typography, All Access features profiles on some of the most innovative and inspiring designers in the industry today. I especially enjoyed reading about the evolution of each designer's career path, from the early struggles to world renowned success. A must-read for anyone passionate about design.

Eureka! There really is no other design book quite like Stefan Bucher's All Access: The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers. The book offers a privileged glimpse at the thoughts/processes/experiences that do indeed make the 30 featured designers so extraordinary. Extremely well-researched, beautfully written, and of course, flawlessly designed. Bucher's tone is refreshingly sincere, even kind in its approach (em dash) a big part of why I never wanted to put it down once I began reading it. Whether you're a cover-to-cover type or a skimmer, you'll find every aspect of this book extremely accessible. Highly recommended reading/viewing for anyone interested in design. Make it the default gift to all the creatives in your life and you can't go wrong. And if you ever get an opportunity to see him speak in front of an audience, you must not pass it up.

Stefan Bucher's All Access: The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers is a fantastic addition to any designers collection, and a true guide for young designers. The book traces the origins, and development of over thirty graphic designers from (in some cases) infancy, to the present. I have never read a book on design which was more truthful from the designers' standpoint. It speaks of their first memories creating, and how those moments shaped their lives and careers. It also describes, in their own words what motivates them, and what discouraged them in their careers. Its not a theoretical description of what design should be, but a realistic show-piece of actual practical work, with specific examples of the thought behind the piece. Nothing else like it out there. Real people with relevant experiences to share, and invaluable lessons to be learned. Read it.