[.ca] Trek: David Carson, Recent Werk (ISBN 1584230460)

yawn-erific:
The title of this book was obviously meant to be spelled 'Turd' as that is what it is, a waste of paper and a waste of time, how many trees were cut down for this dated, boring, tired and common piece of garbage. OK Mr Carson, we get it now, move on! It's books and designers like this man that stop the moving forward of new ideas and new work and new artists, the time and money that was spent publishing this would have been better spent on an emerging talented graphic designer. Why is anyone still giving this awful man any work?

commitment:
David's work was always personal and innovative. This new book shows us his commitment to continue exploring graphic design without following any current trend to satisfy us (graphic designers). I found his personal experience inspiring, refreshing, honest and real. He's having fun. I'll try to do the same thing with my work!

Excellent inspiration for us non-designers:
Who says you need to know the rules of graphic design to break them? I just graduated from college with a bachelor's in computer graphics, where the coursework was more concerned with software know-how than design principles...needless to say I feel a little intimidated when it comes to graphic design. Carson proves with his unusual style that someone with almost no education related to graphic design can produce work of amazing caliber. I feel relieved now that being educated in graphic design principles is not a necessity for the profession, although it probably isn't a bad thing for those who have it. This title, filled with nearly 460 pages of content, is enough inspiration for those of us low on ideas and very privy to Carson's style. If you are interested in the graphic design profession, but know nothing of design principles and are worried that will screw your chances of a career, give this book a shot. The work here should be enough inspiration to help you produce work that is portfolio material. This guy is proof that an MFA in Graphic Design should NEVER be the reason that a designer gets a job, instead of their portfolio (read, actual work). There are many out there who do not like Carson's work, and if that's the case (read a certain review in here) then this book is probably not for you. But most assaults I hear about Carson is that he's arrogant and self-centered and they'll argue that this book is proof of that...I think confident is a more accurate word and if the book seems self-serving, then there's a chance that you misunderstood when you see that the book is about the creator, David Carson, and his work. The majority of those who hate his work just don't get it, those who feel that the message is the message, as opposed to the medium, or that his work is dated and trite. Carson's style has evolved since "The End of Print", his other book, a pretty good deal. For the amount they're asking for, this book is an excellent buy.

Cotton Candy:
Nothing new here... except maybe the over the top self reverential entries... a page from a past calendar logging his world tour espousing his personal greatness in the design world and a picture of him paddling out from his home in paradise... with quotes about how meaningful it is to be a god of design... arrogant self serving propoganda in a flashy package... Trek is like cotton candy it looks enticing and mouthwatering from a distance but once you get ahold of it, your joy is shortlived... its a sticky, sugary, syrupy mess that winds up in the trash after a few bites... Carson is old news... repetitive and trite... for real bleeding edge design thats not old news try AREA from Phaidon now thats substance.