This book can give some ideas on layouts, but the designs on it are very dated. So if you want to take anything good from the book you have to focus more on estructure, and how information is organized on the layout, rather then on the overall design. It's a good book for starters but I prefer Graphic Design Cookbook: Mix & Match Recipes for Faster, Better Layouts. The ideas there are simple, but because of that, never dated.

First things first: this book was clearly designed for beginners. It would probably not be particularly helpful to someone with a graphic design background.

But as someone who has no professional design experience at all and is faced with creating and producing a newsletter for the first time and possibly a brochure as well, this book has been a tremendous help. It answered all my most basic questions, as well as ones I was too ignorant to know I should have (grid? what's that?) The book helpfully assumes that I know more or less nothing, and quickly and economically escorts me through a series of possibilities. I didn't like all the design ideas or layouts, but I wouldn't expect to. Many of the layouts were quite nice, though, and one of them has already been selected to serve as a jumping-off point for me. This won't be the last book I consult, but I'm grateful it was the first.

This whole series seems a little dated to me. The books still serve as a good reference point for ideas, but is really just a book of examples from projects.

The whole "index" series is good for jump starting when in a stuck place. For average students it can really be helpful to get them to seek/create more variety in their work. For marketing or PR individuals or students it is a must have. Many individuals may have a cursory introduction to design and yet find themselves having to create layouts and design. The Index Books are a lifesaver.

This book is at first appearance, visually interesting and consuming. But upon closer look (as in opening it) it's not worth the time, money or breath sadly. The concepts and ideas within this book can be inspiring to thoses who have the time and energy, but overall this book is just a display of bad, kitsch design. My advice? Don't bother.