I've been a fan of SitePoint books for many years now, so when they launched Jason Beaird's The Principles of Beautiful Web Design I ordered my copy right away. I was immediately impressed upon opening the package (and should note that shipping to Canada is always fast with SitePoint). The larger 8×10" full-color format of this book simply rocks: it stays open on the table while you're eating and reading!

Overall, The Principles of Beautiful Web Design is a well-written book that provides a formula for successful web design. Programmers and new web designers will find a lot of helpful tips and easy to understand design theory that will guide them to better design. Seasoned designers won't find too much new information to sink their teeth into, but the book is so easy and fast to read that it's worth perusing even if it simply refreshes your knowledge of design.

Chapter 1: Layout and Composition

I was taken aback by a comment in passing on page 9: Jason starts designing for his clients without any content in hand! As a new designer, I did this often. With 8 years under my belt, I now know better: I never start any design work without some draft content from the client. After all, the layout design should support the content, not the other way around. I'll chalk this up to designer's choice, though I would never recommend this approach.

Beaird presents solid theory in this chapter that's described in a very practical way. He illustrates concepts that many of us may do without thinking, but knowing the theory behind the design will make you a better designer.

Chapter 2: Color

I hadn't read any color theory in years, so while I was familiar with most of the concepts in this chapter, I really appreciated the refresher. I also enjoyed the section that explained the differences between the RGB and CMYK color models. This is information I probably should have known, but never really took the time to grasp. Beaird explains it all clearly.

Chapter 3: Texture

I came to understand the power of texture in web designs by examining the work of other designers. I don't think I'd read about texture as it applies to web design before, so I was very interested in this chapter. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but somehow this chapter fell short for me. It just didn't get that interesting until Beaird applied the theory to the sample project at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 4: Typography

Much like the previous chapter, this section on typography didn't really get that interesting until the information was applied to the sample project. I did enjoy the screenshots in this chapter which highlight some interesting and successful uses of various type faces.

Chapter 5: Imagery

Again, the application section of the chapter was far more interesting than the introductory theory.

The Principles of Beautiful Web Design is aimed at programmers and new designers. In this light, it's an excellent book–it applies a formula to the often elusive design process, making quality design more accessible and less of a high art. Experienced web designers will probably find this book interesting, but it will have less of an impact on your skills. Still, I got excited about design as I read the book even though much of the theory was review for me. Overall, I'm glad to have it on my developer's book shelf and I recommend Jason's book to anyone interested in becoming a better web designer.

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