Applied design for printers
“This primer of design is an earnest effort to make intelligible to the apprentice student certain fundamental principles of arrangement and of ornamentation whose use is instinctive to the accomplished typographer.”
—Harry L. Gage, Applied Design for Printers, a handbook of the principles of arrangement, with brief comments on the periods of design which have most strongly influenced printing,, 1920, Committee on Education, United Typothea of America.
This short handbook gathers a few sound design principles, described in simple and systematic terms, dealing with balance, rhythm, symmetry (or lack of) and use of ornament, all illustrated by many useful graphics. But from a historical perspective (never forget when the book was written while reading), this manual is also a first-hand look into what typography became over the course of 19th century, and what the design issues were in the United States in 1920. A very pleasant way to spend an evening.
The book is now in public domain and can be freely downloaded in various formats from Project Gutenberg. Pick a version with images, otherwise you will miss 60% of the book.
