Design for Hackers: Reverse Engineering Beauty - Paperback >
/ Design for Hackers: Reverse Engineering Beauty - Paperback

Design for Hackers: Reverse Engineering Beauty - Paperback

Regular price$39.99
/
(Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.)
✔ Authenticity Guaranteed — Verified Designer Goods
✔ 100% Money-Back Guarantee on Eligible Items
✔ Prices Displayed in Your Local Currency
✔ Final Price = No Surprise Import Fees
✔ Complimentary Insured Worldwide Shipping on Qualifying Orders
✔ Select Collector & Specialty Pieces May Require Secured Delivery Handling
Our authentication process ensures every item meets strict luxury verification standards. Learn more
Complimentary worldwide shipping on qualifying orders

by David Kadavy (Author)

Discover the techniques behind beautiful design by deconstructing designs to understand them

The term 'hacker' has been redefined to consist of anyone who has an insatiable curiosity as to how things work--and how they can try to make them better. This book is aimed at hackers of all skill levels and explains the classical principles and techniques behind beautiful designs by deconstructing those designs in order to understand what makes them so remarkable. Author and designer David Kadavy provides you with the framework for understanding good design and places a special emphasis on interactive mediums. You'll explore color theory, the role of proportion and geometry in design, and the relationship between medium and form. Packed with unique reverse engineering design examples, this book inspires and encourages you to discover and create new beauty in a variety of formats.

  • Breaks down and studies the classical principles and techniques behind the creation of beautiful design
  • Illustrates cultural and contextual considerations in communicating to a specific audience
  • Discusses why design is important, the purpose of design, the various constraints of design, and how today's fonts are designed with the screen in mind
  • Dissects the elements of color, size, scale, proportion, medium, and form
  • Features a unique range of examples, including the graffiti in the ancient city of Pompeii, the lack of the color black in Monet's art, the style and sleekness of the iPhone, and more

By the end of this book, you'll be able to apply the featured design principles to your own web designs, mobile apps, or other digital work.

Front Jacket

If you want to learn to create great design yourself...there simply is no way to do so with lists of rules. Instead, I want to provide you with a new set of eyes through which you can see the world anew.---DAVID KADAVY

WHY DID MONET NEVER USE THE COLOR BLACK IN HIS PAINTINGS?

WHY IS THE GOLDEN RATIO NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE?

WHY IS COMIC SANS SUCH A HATED FONT?

It's amazing what you can learn about great web design by asking questions like these. Award-winning designer David Kadavy uses this reverse-engineering process in Design for Hackers to deconstruct classical design principles and techniques from web designers. Using an eclectic array of reverse-engineered examples, ranging from Twitter's latest redesign, to Target's red shopping carts, and ancient graffiti from the walls of Pompeii, he explains:

  • COLOR THEORY: How can you enliven your designs by understanding how colors interact?
  • PROPORTION AND GEOMETRY: How can you establish a grid that is suitable for the device on which your design will be displayed?
  • SIZE AND SCALE How can you create clean design just by choosing the right type sizes?
  • WHITE SPACE: How can you use it elegantly to communicate clearly?
  • COMPOSITION AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES: How can you use them to make your designs more compelling?
  • TYPOGRAPHIC ETIQUETTE: What tiny typographic details can make a huge difference in what you're communicating?

Back Jacket

If you want to learn to create great design yourself...there simply is no way to do so with lists of rules. Instead, I want to provide you with a new set of eyes through which you can see the world anew.---DAVID KADAVY

WHY DID MONET NEVER USE THE COLOR BLACK IN HIS PAINTINGS?

WHY IS THE GOLDEN RATIO NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE?

WHY IS COMIC SANS SUCH A HATED FONT?

It's amazing what you can learn about great web design by asking questions like these. Award-winning designer David Kadavy uses this "reverse-engineering" process in Design for Hackers to deconstruct classical design principles and techniques from web designers. Using an eclectic array of reverse-engineered examples, ranging from Twitter's latest redesign, to Target's red shopping carts, and ancient graffiti from the walls of Pompeii, he explains:

  • COLOR THEORY: How can you enliven your designs by understanding how colors interact?
  • PROPORTION AND GEOMETRY: How can you establish a grid that is suitable for the device on which your design will be displayed?
  • SIZE AND SCALE How can you create clean design just by choosing the right type sizes?
  • WHITE SPACE: How can you use it elegantly to communicate clearly?
  • COMPOSITION AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES: How can you use them to make your designs more compelling?
  • TYPOGRAPHIC ETIQUETTE: What tiny typographic details can make a huge difference in what you're communicating?

Author Biography

David Kadavy is a user interface designer whose clients include Silicon Valley startups such as oDesk, UserVoice, and PBworks. He led the design departments at two Silicon Valley startups and an architecture firm, taught a college course in typography, and studied ancient typography in Rome. David blogs about design at kadavy.net, and his Twitter handle is @kadavy.

Number of Pages: 352
Dimensions: 0.94 x 9.22 x 7.4 IN
Publication Date: August 29, 2011
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Backordered, shipping soon
Shop with Confidence
  • ✔ Authenticity Guaranteed — Verified Designer Goods
  • ✔ Sourced from Authorized European/U.S. Luxury Distributors
  • ✔ Secure Checkout — SSL Encrypted Payments
  • ✔ Fast Global Delivery — 3–11 Business Days
  • ✔ Easy Returns on Eligible Items
  • ✔ 100% Money-Back Guarantee — Full Refund if Not Satisfied
Verified Trust Rating: 91/100
Amazon American Express Apple Pay Bancontact Diners Club Discover Google Pay Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay USDC Visa SSL Secure
Amazon Pay Logo Fast checkout with Amazon Pay. Use your Amazon account to skip entering shipping or card info.
Trusted by discerning buyers worldwide — secure, verified luxury sourcing

AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED

Reserved for you — complete your purchase to secure this piece.

Authorized Designer Inventory Secure & Encrypted Checkout Tracked & Insured Delivery

OFFICIALLY AUTHORIZED RESELLER

Discover Officially Authorized Authentic Items at STORE7994.com - Certificates Available on Request!

Independently verified for store quality and customer safety.
Trust score: 91/100

All designer items offered by STORE 7994 are sourced from trusted luxury distributors and verified through independent authentication services.

Learn how STORE 7994 authenticates luxury items

Guaranteed Authentic — Includes Brand Documentation & Third-Party Verification Options.

Shipping information

  • Free Shipping* on all orders over $300 USD to most countries* Estimated delivery: 2-5 business days Mon-Sat to U.S., CA, EU etc.
  • Tracking available: DHL Express
  • Store 7994 Shipping policy
  • Global delivery in 3–9 business days (location dependent).
  • Free Worldwide Shipping $300+. International duties & VAT are calculated by destination country and may be collected upon delivery. UK orders are subject to 20% import VAT upon delivery.

Our innovation isn’t just in the brands we carry — it’s in the way we connect them. From our automation engine that keeps collections globally updated to our commitment to authenticity-first presentation, STORE 7994 exists where timeless design meets modern precision.

Every product we offer is:
Elevated · Intentional · Exclusive · Authentic

STORE 7994 is an authorized reseller of luxury fashion houses. Certificates and proof of authenticity are available to brand owners and partners upon request.

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Returns & Refunds

We want you to shop with confidence at STORE 7994. If your purchase does not meet expectations, eligible items may be returned under the conditions below.

Return Eligibility
Items must be unused, unworn, and in original condition with all tags, packaging, and accessories included. Items showing any signs of wear or damage will not be accepted.

Return Window
Return requests must be made within 14 days of delivery.

Return Shipping
Customers are responsible for return shipping costs unless the item is defective, damaged, or incorrect.

Luxury Items
Items valued over $1,000 may be subject to a 7% restocking fee upon approved return.

Non-Returnable Items
For hygiene and product integrity reasons, the following items are final sale once opened or used:

• Underwear
• Fragrances
• Any worn or used items

Made-to-Order Items
Custom-designed products, including STORE 7994 hoodies, are made exclusively for each customer and are final sale. These items are not eligible for return or exchange unless defective or incorrect.

If you receive a defective or incorrect item, please contact us and we will make it right.

International Shipping & Duties
Many of our products ship directly from trusted international partners. Any applicable customs duties or import taxes are calculated at checkout and are non-refundable, even if the item is returned.

Returns & Associated Fees
All approved returns are subject to a $24 return processing fee. For international orders, duties, taxes, and return fees will be deducted from the original payment.

Shipping Policy
Complimentary shipping is offered on orders over $300. Orders below this threshold are subject to standard shipping rates at checkout.