This book covers key design principles and art techniques that you may have forgotten after art school.

Cons: A lot easier to read for precticing artists and designers; may be brain freeze to art students goggling at the compact knowledge. Not recommended reading unless student is mature enough/is in the higher years/is truly interested.

Initial impression based on format, book thickness and the language used may appear too stiff and seem like very heavy reading at first, specially to first time art educators. Read the book in topics you need in order to digest info better.

After a while the format becomes familiar, the information astoundingly clear/well researched and you realize the book was brilliantly organized. Eureka!

As with all art/design reference book collections, this makes a good backbone book that could be supplemented by others, as it cannot cover everything. Ex: For selecting/using type and organizing layouts try "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams, Peachpit Press. There's a web book version as well.

Final comment: Basic Visual Concepts and Principles, a thumbs up, definitely must have reference.