I have compiled this list of books based on my experience in the design industry.
      Although I never made it to the big-time ivory tower of design, my career spanning more than 30 years has been successful and provides me with a very secure life.
      Through more than 7,000 design projects in our client billing system I've seen just about everything -- from quarter-million dollar trade show booths to fifty-cent bumper stickers -- I've touched on them all. I've designed more than 500 logos and literally hundreds of business start-up kits from the corner bar to fortune 500 corporations. The design field can present just about any kind of project you can imagine from a sand-blasted store-front concept, to anniversary books for uncle Bob and Aunt Allice -- and yes, now web sites and web pages.
      The ropes teach you some important lessons: you'll never know how much to charge if you don't know how much it costs you... and behind every project is a potential blood-bath. I've had to eat $5,000 ads! I've had to watch skids of annual reports go to the land fill. I've had bush-league designers rip off my work -- and had clients get the goods but never pay. Once upon a time I even had to pay $3,500 to collect $1,500 from a deadbeat client.
      Put these books on your bookshelf. Learn to protect your work and sweat. I've read ALL of these books, and their lessons are not only true, but they agree with the hard-knocks of 30 years in the biz. Maybe you'll heed my words so you won't have to learn the same hard-knocks.
Thanks for reading.

The Graphic Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating & Budgeting - Revised Edition... Whether you're a start-up business or an experienced owner, this invaluable guide provides a one-stop source of indispensable, innovative methods for achieving productivity and profitability in every area of a graphic design business. - 208 pages; Paperback $15.95
 
Digital Design Business Practices - by Liane Sebastian... Previously published as Electronic Design and Publishing, this third edition of an industry classic has been thoroughly updated and expanded to include five new chapters about Web strategy, planning, design, and construction. The expert, practical advice is clearly illustrated with examples of what works and what doesn't work in managing budgets, handling copyrights, dealing with decision-makers, and negotiating disputes. - 416 pages Paperback $23.95
 
The Copyright Guide - A Friendly Guide to Protecting and Profiting from Copyrights... This is the definitive handbook for artists, writers, musicians, software designers, photographers, and anyone else who creates, acquires, or exploits copyrights in their business or personal creative activities. Updated to reflect recent changes in U.S. copyright law - Revised Edition By Lee Wilson, 192 pages; Softcover $15.95
 
Legal Guide for the Visual Artist - By Tad Crawford... Fourth Edition - this essential guide presents a comprehensive overview of the legal issues faced by anyone working in the visual arts. The narrative text is arranged into twenty-four chapters covering: copyright, contracts, censorship, moral rights, sales (by artist, gallery, or agent), taxation, estate planning, museums, collecting, and grants. - 256 pages; Softcover $15.95
 
The Trademark Guide - A Friendly Handbook for Protecting and Profiting from Trademarks... Anyone looking to understand and benefit from trademarks should consult this authoritative, up-to-date handbook for complete information. Written in an easy-to-understand style, this comprehensive guide covers what can and cannot be protected, duration and scope of protection, notice and registration, how to avoid and evaluate infringement, and how trademarks are used and abused in the marketplace. - by Lee Wilson, 192 pages; Softcover $15.15
 
Business and Legal Forms for Graphic Designers - Revised Edition with CD-ROM... contains 36 business and legal forms essential to today's successful graphic designer. Detailed instructions and unique negotiation checklists are provided to guide in making the best deal. The forms include: Web site design contract; estimate for client, preliminary budget and schedule; proposal form; production schedule; estimate request for suppliers -- and all the others you'll need. - 224 pages; Softcover $19.95
 
Licensing Art & Design - Revised edition by Caryn R. Leland... Whether you are a designer, illustrator, photographer, or fine artist, you can increase your income by licensing your creative images. This book will show you how by providing expert coverage of the following areas: how to protect your ideas with copyrights, patents, and trademarks -- includes: model licensing agreement - 128 pages; Softcover $13.55
 
Business and Legal Forms for Illustrators - by Tad Crawford... Expanded and updated to cover electronic rights, this revised edition contains a complete set of business and legal forms, including sample contracts, for your every need as an illustrator. Bonus: 8 1/2 X 11" copies of each form on tear-out pages perforated for easy use - 192 pages; Softcover, Includes CD-ROM $24.95
 
The Business of Multimedia - by Nina Schuyler... Everything the developer of CD-ROM interactive multimedia needs to know about costs, financing, distribution channels, content acquisition, licensing, and more. With examples and anecdotes from pioneers in the field, interviews with leading professionals -- bonus sample contracts and agreements - 240 pages $15.95
 
AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design - AIGA... AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design is a comprehensive guide to every aspect of the graphic design business, from designer relationships with clients, employees, and suppliers to management issues, marketing strategies, rights, and ethical standards. It covers negotiation principles, setting fees, contracts, structuring the design firm, audits, insurance basics, studio safety, marketing on the World Wide Web, copyright and licensing, trademark infringement, and business ethics. - 320 pages; Softcover $19.95
 

from the Design Business Department. Keywords for this item are: Web: Web design, Web development, html, shtml, gifs, jpgs, web graphics, layout, pages -- You can find many other titles from this department here!

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