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Product Description
Rapid Viz, Third Edition: A New Method for the Rapid Visualization of Ideas provides hands-on instruction on quick sketching skills and techniques that allow you to picture your ideas mentally, and then quickly convert those thoughts into visual reality on a piece of paper. The method is not designed to help you become a master illustrator, but rather a visual thinker and communicator. Emphasizing speed and simplicity, the Rapid Viz method breaks down drawing to the essentials, teaching the fundamental techniques of graphic art and design using only the simplest of tools: felt-tip pens or pencils and paper. Using a minimum amount of time, trouble, and effort, Rapid Viz enables you to nail down your ideas onto paper, rapidly converting your thoughts while they are still fresh, and then polish them for clear visual communication with others.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
The title's meaning is self-evident but the potential value of what can be learned from Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston in this book is not. First published in 1980 and now available in a Third Edition (2006) that some view as inferior to its predecessor (1990), this book is based on the same core assumption that Dan Roam's three books are: the quality and clarity of ideas can be increased and improved by illustrating them. If you have no ideas, you need other sources of assistance. If you have difficulty articulating your ideas with words, Hanks and Bellistin can prepare you to express yourself visually and that, in turn, will strengthen your verbal skills. The techniques and skills that Rapid Viz approach requires are introduced in this book, and thoroughly explained, accompanied by exercises that can help you to develop them.
In their Introduction, Hanks and Belliston explain the objectives and guidelines used to develop their book as well as the goals of the Rapid Viz method, once that was fine-tuned during several decades of application and modification. They also suggest what their reader ("student") needs to get started: a pencil and/or felt-tip pen ("Use whatever you want as long as it's simple, cheap, and you can carry it in your pocket or purse at all times"), perhaps multi-colored felt-tip pens and/or pencils, perhaps an eraser and/or ruler, sheets of some regular bond paper, a pad of 14" X 17" tracing paper.
At this point, I presume to suggest that you consider a sketchbook with blank pages and have it nearby as you complete various exercises within the book. Why? Sooner and more often than you may now expect, completing the process of instruction that Hanks and Belliston follow will generate stimulate your thoughts and feelings as well as images associated with them. You need to record notes, comments, and illustrations (however simple). As you learn more about the process, and as you strengthen your skills, you will also develop an "eye" that will recognize your progress over time. My personal preference is for the Pro Art Sketch Book (5.5" X 8", 220 Pages) that I purchase through Amazon for $5.94 plus shipping.
With regard to the exercises within Chapters 1-6 and the additional exercises in Appendix A, most of them can be completed within the book. There may be a few that you wish to complete several times, hence the need for the sheets of paper and a blank-pages notebook, if you have one. Practice may not make perfect but it can certainly support improvement. However, practice with discipline and purpose. As Hanks and Belliston point out, "The exercises attempt to restrict your freedom temporarily. Tight restrictions as to what is drawn, how long to take, and so forth make drawing easier during the early stages of the learning process. Set you own tight goals. Too many choices breed confusion and non-performance. Decide specifically what to do and do it."
Two final points. First, with regard to "rapid," make haste slowly. Rapid Viz really is a progressive process. Also, the value of this book will be determined almost entirely by the quality and extent of attention and effort you commit to the learning opportunities that Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston offer.
In their Introduction, Hanks and Belliston explain the objectives and guidelines used to develop their book as well as the goals of the Rapid Viz method, once that was fine-tuned during several decades of application and modification. They also suggest what their reader ("student") needs to get started: a pencil and/or felt-tip pen ("Use whatever you want as long as it's simple, cheap, and you can carry it in your pocket or purse at all times"), perhaps multi-colored felt-tip pens and/or pencils, perhaps an eraser and/or ruler, sheets of some regular bond paper, a pad of 14" X 17" tracing paper.
At this point, I presume to suggest that you consider a sketchbook with blank pages and have it nearby as you complete various exercises within the book. Why? Sooner and more often than you may now expect, completing the process of instruction that Hanks and Belliston follow will generate stimulate your thoughts and feelings as well as images associated with them. You need to record notes, comments, and illustrations (however simple). As you learn more about the process, and as you strengthen your skills, you will also develop an "eye" that will recognize your progress over time. My personal preference is for the Pro Art Sketch Book (5.5" X 8", 220 Pages) that I purchase through Amazon for $5.94 plus shipping.
With regard to the exercises within Chapters 1-6 and the additional exercises in Appendix A, most of them can be completed within the book. There may be a few that you wish to complete several times, hence the need for the sheets of paper and a blank-pages notebook, if you have one. Practice may not make perfect but it can certainly support improvement. However, practice with discipline and purpose. As Hanks and Belliston point out, "The exercises attempt to restrict your freedom temporarily. Tight restrictions as to what is drawn, how long to take, and so forth make drawing easier during the early stages of the learning process. Set you own tight goals. Too many choices breed confusion and non-performance. Decide specifically what to do and do it."
Two final points. First, with regard to "rapid," make haste slowly. Rapid Viz really is a progressive process. Also, the value of this book will be determined almost entirely by the quality and extent of attention and effort you commit to the learning opportunities that Kurt Hanks and Larry Belliston offer.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
I recommend the better 2nd edition instead...
7 Oct 2006
Format:Paperback
This new 3rd edition is barely decent, not great. In some ways, it's easily worse than the good 2nd edition(!)...
It's essentially the same with a few minor changes. First off: the most obvious change here is in its *size*: this 3rd edition is about 2/3 as big as the 2nd edition- tiny! I'm talking about the overall physical dimensions: mainly length & width, with depth not being radically changed.
Most of the lettering is the same size as before, although a few pages include microscopic printing. These new physical dimensions are *not* an improvement. This whole book has an uncomfortably crammed look & feel, not unlike a packed elevator ride. "Get me outta this thing!" is my honest reaction here.
Maybe it's because I'm so used to the 2nd edition: I consider it to be the *BEST* version, even though I only rated it as being somewhat above average. The 2nd edition is basically good, and I'm glad I have it, but I still don't think *any* version of Rapid Viz has lived up to its real, full potential. My basic complaint with these books is that the illustrations themselves often look a little too unfinished and sketchy, lacking the true detail & depth that a 5-star book might have. At other times, some drawings actually have *too much* microscopic detail. And in an effort to make an already conceptually clear & concise book even more clear & concise, this new 3rd edition eliminates some drawings & photos along the way(!). Even worse: the photos that *have* been included are reproduced poorly, as if they were printed with a cheap, pre-Internet, black & white inkjet printer. I thought new editions of books were supposed to get better, not worse! I give this thing 1 star because it's a completely unnecessary downgrade- at best.
In short: Yes, this 3rd edition has a fancy, new, computer designed cover, but I easily recommend the better 2nd edition *by far*.
**Copy and paste 1560520558 to search for the better 2nd edition here on Amazon!**
It's essentially the same with a few minor changes. First off: the most obvious change here is in its *size*: this 3rd edition is about 2/3 as big as the 2nd edition- tiny! I'm talking about the overall physical dimensions: mainly length & width, with depth not being radically changed.
Most of the lettering is the same size as before, although a few pages include microscopic printing. These new physical dimensions are *not* an improvement. This whole book has an uncomfortably crammed look & feel, not unlike a packed elevator ride. "Get me outta this thing!" is my honest reaction here.
Maybe it's because I'm so used to the 2nd edition: I consider it to be the *BEST* version, even though I only rated it as being somewhat above average. The 2nd edition is basically good, and I'm glad I have it, but I still don't think *any* version of Rapid Viz has lived up to its real, full potential. My basic complaint with these books is that the illustrations themselves often look a little too unfinished and sketchy, lacking the true detail & depth that a 5-star book might have. At other times, some drawings actually have *too much* microscopic detail. And in an effort to make an already conceptually clear & concise book even more clear & concise, this new 3rd edition eliminates some drawings & photos along the way(!). Even worse: the photos that *have* been included are reproduced poorly, as if they were printed with a cheap, pre-Internet, black & white inkjet printer. I thought new editions of books were supposed to get better, not worse! I give this thing 1 star because it's a completely unnecessary downgrade- at best.
In short: Yes, this 3rd edition has a fancy, new, computer designed cover, but I easily recommend the better 2nd edition *by far*.
**Copy and paste 1560520558 to search for the better 2nd edition here on Amazon!**
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Really great stuff to get you moving with visual thinking!
31 July 2006
Format:Paperback
This is a new edition of Rapid Viz. It is basically the same in terms of contents as the earlier edition.
I have always enjoyed reading - and playing around with the ideas from - Kurt Hank's books. I have all his books, which include Draw!, Design Yourself, The Change Navigator, Wake Up Your Creative Genius, Up Your Productivity.
Like his other books, this book is very well illustrated, conceptually & graphically. It's primary focus is the introduction of a Rapid Visualisation Process, which one can learn easily & then use readily to capture & convert fleeting thoughts into visual forms on paper. It is packed with ideas, games, puzzles & exercises to guide the reader.
It is written for the novice in mind. It provides a step by step approach to the practical strategies of seeing, thinking, & drawing.
For the benefit of readers, I append herewith the Table of Contents:
- All we need is another drawing book;
- Another way of learning: an insight into intuitive, holistic thinking;
- The bilingual method: using the often neglected visual abilities we all possess;
- What you need to get started: a description of tools & techniques to aid visual learning;
- The box method: a very simple drawing technique for rapid viz;
- Rapid indication: visual symbols & cliches for rapid viz;
- The visualisation process: drawing made easier by evolving a visual concept to a finished drawing;
- Graphic expression: communication with visual images;
- Graphic creation: using visual thinking to stimulate & refine creative thinking;
- Learning with visuals: using visual patterns to improve learning, memory & recall;
I must say: The entire book is really great stuff to get you moving with visual thinking!
One word of advice: Readers who are more logically oriented by nature, should firstly take a look at 'Thinking with a Pencil' by Henning Nelms. This book has a more structured approach to visual thinking.
I have always enjoyed reading - and playing around with the ideas from - Kurt Hank's books. I have all his books, which include Draw!, Design Yourself, The Change Navigator, Wake Up Your Creative Genius, Up Your Productivity.
Like his other books, this book is very well illustrated, conceptually & graphically. It's primary focus is the introduction of a Rapid Visualisation Process, which one can learn easily & then use readily to capture & convert fleeting thoughts into visual forms on paper. It is packed with ideas, games, puzzles & exercises to guide the reader.
It is written for the novice in mind. It provides a step by step approach to the practical strategies of seeing, thinking, & drawing.
For the benefit of readers, I append herewith the Table of Contents:
- All we need is another drawing book;
- Another way of learning: an insight into intuitive, holistic thinking;
- The bilingual method: using the often neglected visual abilities we all possess;
- What you need to get started: a description of tools & techniques to aid visual learning;
- The box method: a very simple drawing technique for rapid viz;
- Rapid indication: visual symbols & cliches for rapid viz;
- The visualisation process: drawing made easier by evolving a visual concept to a finished drawing;
- Graphic expression: communication with visual images;
- Graphic creation: using visual thinking to stimulate & refine creative thinking;
- Learning with visuals: using visual patterns to improve learning, memory & recall;
I must say: The entire book is really great stuff to get you moving with visual thinking!
One word of advice: Readers who are more logically oriented by nature, should firstly take a look at 'Thinking with a Pencil' by Henning Nelms. This book has a more structured approach to visual thinking.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Smaller Format that previous edition not appreciated
11 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback
I suppose the smaller format kept the cost down, but I was disappointed to find that out AFTER I bought them. (That's right, "them". I ordered a dozen for a drawing class I held at my company.)
It still has great content though, and I further suppose that if you never ran into the larger format edition, you may not miss it. Excellent content. Not just another drawing book.
It still has great content though, and I further suppose that if you never ran into the larger format edition, you may not miss it. Excellent content. Not just another drawing book.
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