Magazines Communication Arts
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - The only magazine that I keep back copies of!
As a professional graphic designer and illustrator, I read a lot of the trade magazines, but Communication Arts is the only one I keep back copies of. I have had a subscription to this magazine since my art school days and I still look forward to receiving it in the mail. The magazine is beautifully designed with clean type and the feature articles are always interesting. It is well worth the cost of subscription. Just get it! You won't be sorry.

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Rating: - Important to know what you want
If you are looking for a design mag with flip-through layouts or edgy underground images, this is probably not the publication for you. If you're on the search for pretty pictures and design inspiration, you'd probably like one or two of the annuals (i.e., Design, Illustration, Photography or Interactive), but not a whole subscription.

Now then, if you don't mind reading and are looking for contemporary and practical insights into the world of commercial print design, CA comes highly recommended. Its value very nearly overshadows its cost, and if you can't afford it, it's well worth harassing family members for a gift subscription.

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Rating: - The essential tool for working commercial artists
As a working illustrator and designer, I have been a subscriber to CA since 1983, and own copies that date back to my art school days in the late 70's. I consider this magazine an invaluable tool for maintaining an edge in the ever-changing commercial art market. Not only does CA provide in depth interviews with the top design agencies, illustrators, designers and photographers working today, but it helps me keep up to date with current trends in design.

The five regular issues are great, but the three annuals that present a comprehensive gallery of the very best in photography, illustration, design and media for each year have provided me with untold inspiration, practical ideas for problem solving, and have helped me to strive for greater creativity. As a reference tool for style and trends, CA is always featuring the absolute best the market has to offer.

Printed on heavy, gloss stock of near archival quality, every issue is a treasure that more than justifies the price. While each new issues serves as a benchmark for what is happening in the commercial art world, the old issues become time capsules that never seem to loose their appeal. I still delight in reviewing articles and images from 20+ years ago.

CA is a good, but slightly pricey diversion for anybody casually interested in art, photography and advertising. It is a GREAT and invaluable tool for every working professional commercial artist, and worth every penny spent tenfold.

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Rating: - Expensive Eye-Candy
Visually stunning mag, frequently used for inspiration by graphic designers. Fixated on "new" and "award-winning", at the expensive of "good" design or socially-relevant design. The articles on professional practice are sometimes shallow, sometimes obvious. The style guide for people who manufacture desire.