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Designa (Wooden Books) Hardcover – October 7, 2014

by Wooden Books (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars 730 ratings
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Following the success of Quadrivium and Sciencia, a compendium of six titles on art and design in the acclaimed Wooden Books series appears here in one volume.

From the geometric patterns of Islamic art and design to the swirling floral motifs of Celtic art, Designa brings together six elegant and insightful short volumes from the Wooden Books series on art and design including Islamic Design, Celtic Pattern, Curves, The Golden Section, Symmetry, and Perspective. Lavishly illustrated with engravings, woodcuts, and original drawings and diagrams, Designa will inspire readers of all ages to take an interest in the interconnected knowledge of art and design from different cultures throughout the world.

Wooden Books was founded in 1999 by designer John Martineau near Hay-on-Wye. The aim was to produce a beautiful series of recycled books based on the classical philosophies, arts and sciences. Using the Beatrix Potter formula of text facing picture pages, and old-styles fonts, along with hand-drawn illustrations and 19th century engravings, the books are designed not to date. Small but stuffed with information. Eco friendly and educational. Big ideas in a tiny space. There are over 1,000,000 Wooden Books now in print worldwide and growing.

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  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury USA
  4. Publication date
    October 7, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    6.3 x 1.7 x 7.65 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1620406594
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1620406595
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daud Sutton is director of the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation’s design studio Editio Electrum. He lives in England. Adam Tetlow is an artist and writer. He lives with his wife and three children in rural England. Lisa DeLong has a Ph.D. in the use of geometry in art. A native of Utah, she works in London and around the world promoting excellence in the traditional arts. Dr. Scott Olsen is one of the leading experts on the Golden Section, and an associate professor of philosophy at Central Florida Community College in Ocala, Florida. David Wade is a writer and artist, and the author of the previous Wooden Book, Li: Dynamic Form in Nature. He lives in Wales. Phoebe McNaughton is an industrial graphic designer and a painter. She lives in England.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA (October 7, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1620406594
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1620406595
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.88 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 1.7 x 7.65 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 730 ratings

About the author

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Adam Tetlow

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
730 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book comprehensive in illustrating different approaches to designing shapes and appreciate its beautiful catalog of visual design. They describe it as a good reference book that's fun to browse through, with all sorts of patterns and thorough information. While customers consider it worth the price, they note it lacks clear instructions.

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33 customers mention "Design"33 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's design, describing it as a beautiful catalog that comprehensively illustrates different approaches to creating shapes.

"...packed with examples from thousands of years: Graphics and Architectural styles from around the world as well as Scientific examples of ideas like..." Read more

"This was much better than i expected. Covers lots of design aspects that my other books do but in more detail. This was a good addition to my library" Read more

"...Brief introductions of uses in history make this book not only a great collection of patterns but a delightful history book." Read more

"...Not as good as the quadrivium but it’s a beautiful necessity for anyone crafting Celtic mosaics or is curious about the principles behind some of..." Read more

28 customers mention "Book content"28 positive0 negative

Customers find this book to be a fantastic addition to the Wooden Books series, serving as a valuable reference.

"...This was a good addition to my library" Read more

"...The Golden Section chapter is great. This series of books is downright amazing, they have all the secrets to everything you ever really wanted..." Read more

"The contents of this book are a treasure if only I could see them...." Read more

"...They include all the mini-books in the series so buying these three books encompasses ALL the wooden books in the series!..." Read more

20 customers mention "Interest"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and enjoyable to browse through, with one customer noting its informative content and another highlighting its value for artists.

"...It's fascinating reading, and going through the illustrations there are Artistic designs you may have seen (for example in works by M.C. Escher)..." Read more

"...It's a treasure trove of fascinating topics that can be appreciated by beginners and experts alike." Read more

"...This series of books is downright amazing, they have all the secrets to everything you ever really wanted to know about design, I also have..." Read more

"...It's fun just to browse, but the info is both historical and instructional." Read more

7 customers mention "Pattern content"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the variety of patterns in the book, with one customer noting it includes scientific examples of ideas like symmetry, while another mentions it provides little introductions about the patterns and shapes.

"...as well as Scientific examples of ideas like symmetry and repetitive examples from Nature. All sorts of patterns, from strict order to random fields...." Read more

"I am fastinated with these complicated pattern that I can used for free motion quilting as well as knowing they are based on mathematical equations...." Read more

"...introductions of uses in history make this book not only a great collection of patterns but a delightful history book." Read more

"...on how to do things, it tells stories, or gives little introductions about the patterns and shapes, but that's about it...." Read more

4 customers mention "Information content"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, with one mentioning that the subjects are covered thoroughly.

"...' that concern this subject and is absolutely thorough and informative on many levels. I can see it as my new 'Bible' for my final vocation." Read more

"I was beyond pleased with this book series, the subjects are covered pretty thouroughly as far as brief lessons are concerned...." Read more

"This book is full of information that would take years to discover on your own. It is wonderful!" Read more

"Enjoyed it. Covers things you should have learns in school." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth every penny, with one noting that the material inside is priceless.

"...of art - the layout and design is top notch - but the material in the book is priceless! I want to collect the whole series!" Read more

"These series of books are worth every last penny!" Read more

"Many patterns it worth the price. Fast delivery." Read more

"Amazing books and worth the price!..." Read more

13 customers mention "Instruction quality"9 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the instructional content of the book, with some finding it lacking in clear guidance and teaching nothing about how to do things, while one customer notes it is based on mathematical equations.

"...It's a treasure trove of fascinating topics that can be appreciated by beginners and experts alike." Read more

"...used for free motion quilting as well as knowing they are based on mathematical equations...." Read more

"...this book is nothing like I thought it would be, it teaches you nothing on how to do things, it tells stories, or gives little introductions about..." Read more

"...its everything you ever could want to know about qualitative math, math in art, math in music and math in nature...." Read more

10/10 would buy again ♡
5 out of 5 stars
10/10 would buy again ♡
Amazing book genuinely beautiful. Saw it at a spirit shop.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • glenn
    5.0 out of 5 stars DESIGNA- Thousands of Years in One Compact Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I thought this would be one of those large-format books, like a magazine with better covers. But it's 8 inches by 6 inches and 1.5 inches thick with 410 pages including a 5-page Index at the back for cross-reference.
    DESIGNA is packed with examples from thousands of years: Graphics and Architectural styles from around the world as well as Scientific examples of ideas like symmetry and repetitive examples from Nature. All sorts of patterns, from strict order to random fields. An arcane tour of relationships compiled for those who can take advantage of this information and not have to reinvent the wheel. It's fascinating reading, and going through the illustrations there are Artistic designs you may have seen (for example in works by M.C. Escher) that are broken down into their elements to show how they work, both visually to massage the brain through the optical cortex, and aesthetically, as they show you WHY they are beautiful. You could view this as someone seeking a specific solution to a problem or as a tourist who just wants to explore where they've never been before. There are carved pieces from 200,000 years ago that are just as modern-looking as Art made yesterday, using the same designs for the same reasons, proving that early humans were more like we are now (and maybe even more, because considering the difficultly level of those pieces, the nameless creators were geniuses.)
    I wasn't quite sure what this book would contain and now I'm pleased (and amazed) at the depth and scale of the resources that were assembled to inform as well as entertain.
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Nearly every page of this book could become an entire book on it's own. It's a treasure trove of fascinating topics that can be appreciated by beginners and experts alike.
    Helpful
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  • carj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Was a surprise
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This was much better than i expected. Covers lots of design aspects that my other books do but in more detail. This was a good addition to my library
    Helpful
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  • Kaye DeeCee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Contains many pattern for quilting
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I am fastinated with these complicated pattern that I can used for free motion quilting as well as knowing they are based on mathematical equations. I will use them at there most simple lines or take it to the max.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Yifang H.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Trips to the ancient daily life with compasses and ruler
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Pack full of designs from ancients. With enough reference lines left for me to figure out how patterns were drawn I can draw them with only compasses and ruler, and experience the joy of past without modern technology.
    Brief introductions of uses in history make this book not only a great collection of patterns but a delightful history book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Kitten
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
    Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I am a digital art designer, as well as many other art hobbies, and I bought this book recently as resource to a college essay on the Golden Section.
    The Golden Section chapter is great.
    This series of books is downright amazing, they have all the secrets to everything you ever really wanted to know about design, I also have Quadrivium and its everything you ever could want to know about qualitative math, math in art, math in music and math in nature.

    I can’t imagine my life without these and I plan to enjoy them for ever
    32 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Solomon M
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing books and worth the price!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    These books hardback are very fragile but they do not ship them as fragile so when you buy them as new they arrive with torn edges scuffed up corners.

    I'm not doing a second return, but I am very displeased with the quality of these hardbacks because you don't value your product enough to ship it where it won't be damaged.
    Helpful
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  • ecco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the whole series
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Haven’t been disappointed yet. Not as good as the quadrivium but it’s a beautiful necessity for anyone crafting Celtic mosaics or is curious about the principles behind some of the most intricate designs inside Islamic countries and others.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un libro di sei libri
    Reviewed in Italy on March 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Libro composto da sei libri con bellissime immagini.
    Report
  • cato2
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic.
    Reviewed in Australia on October 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Everyone who sees this falls in love. Its a thousand hours of enthralled thought. Makes a stunning gift for anyone who even vaguely likes art/design.
    Report
  • M. A. Novoa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Una anécdota divertida
    Reviewed in Spain on April 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Amazón tardó tanto tiempo en mandarlo que la tarjeta con la que se había pagado caducó. 🤣
    Así es, después de casi 5 meses por fin lo tengo en mis manos, es un regalo que llevo queriendo más de una década y 5 meses de espera compara poco con una década.

    Es un libro magnífico, hay gente que dice que es muy básico, puede ser pero si quisiera algo más … avanzado/ completo/ profundo(?). Me hubiera comprado un libro (o incluso una enciclopedia) de cada tema específicamente.
    Como bien se especifica son 4 libros sucintos en 1, no esperen más que unas maravillosas ilustraciones e información sucinta de varios temas interesantes.
    Si conocen esta casa saben a lo que atenerse, sino pueden ver algún resumen en su página o comprarse uno de los libros pequeños.
    Si se es parte del mundo del arte, ilustración, animación o diseño pueden darle una oportunidad y no creo que les defraude, a no ser que sean especialistas en la materia, es ahí donde lo pueden encontrar … poco informativo.
    Respetuosamente recuerden que esto es mi humilde opinión. Espero lo disfruten. :3
    Report
  • Ranjan De
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative book for any sacred geometry enthusiast
    Reviewed in India on July 14, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A very covetable and very comprehensive volume on sacred geometry...
    Report
  • K J Price
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great detail
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting facts etc. Really enjoying it.
    Report