Learning about design in theory and knowing the technical aspects of it can't hurt, but the reason why people create bad designs is not because they don't know how to make a design. It's because they lack creativity. Designing things is a creative process, not a technical one.
I completely disagree. Everyone is creative. Design is not about learning to be creative, but about learning how to use your creativity. Here's an excerpt from the book that speaks to this:
...we assign mystical reverence to the work of professional designers. Their elegant color schemes, provocative typography, and eye-scorching aesthetics leave us dumbfounded. Only “creative types” can achieve this; only near-savants who were born with a special talent.
Browsing design websites further compounds this assigned reverence. There, designers discuss creating processes rather than creating design. They promote glossy techniques over the boring fundamentals. They fawn over other designers, who command the current popular aesthetic.
The design forums that helped groom and educate many who now call themselves professional designers (including myself) have all but disappeared. Instead, we have ffffound, Dribbble, Cargo Collective, and other closed-gate communities where the intent is that you peek in through the bars and hope that someday you’ll get inside. There are fewer modes of meaningful learning. Less sharing of experience. Now, it’s “Check out this beautiful illustration and custom lettering. If you can’t do something this cool, we won’t let you in. Good luck getting here.”
Seeing all that, you’d think design is difficult. You’d think it’s complicated, and that gaining basic skill requires hours of studying a multitude of advanced topics. And you’d be wrong.
Anyone can be a great designer with practice. It’s both at once liberating and frightening: your future as a designer depends only on how hard you’re willing to work. Design is a skill and a trade; you get better at it by practicing. First, learn the basics and go design something. Then, call yourself a designer. The more things you design, the better you will get and the more lovely and insightful your creations will become. No magic knowledge hidden away in design books, blogs, or classes will teach you to be a great designer. All you have to do is practice. Learning design is that simple.
The basics you need to learn fill the rest of this book...
People launching businesses face much more substantial design costs. At the high end, paying a designer $100/hr. At the low end, buying: templates, fonts, logos, icons, photos, etc.
The premise of the book is how to achieve design yourself that's good enough to launch a new business. You can always hire a designer later, as you business grows.
If that's not worth $39 to you, that's fine and I completely respect your decision. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for being so nice about it!
All feedback welcome. You can get in touch with me at hello@BootstrappingDesign.com
