NEW BOOK OUT: RIDICULOUS ADVERTISING RULES

The Medium is the Message and 50 other Ridiculous Advertising Rules

Every single day we’re bombarded with a regular onslaught of advertising. The paper you read, the magazine you buy, the radio show you listen to: they all feature ads. There’s product placement on TV and on the silver screen. And the moment you go online you’re exposed to anything from pop-up ads to spam. And let’s not forget about the public transport that is covered in slogans, and the enormous billboards and flashy neon signs that are all there in the public domain, vying for your attention. No opportunity is wasted by the ad men to grab the attention of potential customers and entice, seduce or convince them to buy a certain product, service or idea.

Not surprising then that advertising has been called the greatest art form of the 20th century, as well as the biggest evil man has ever produced. Whether or not you believe in a thing called ARTvertising or of the opinion that advertising, along with branding and marketing, is downright diabolical, you’re bound to find this book a source of inspiration.

We’ve collected and researched a total of 51 rules, including “The Medium is the Message,” “Make the Logo Bigger” and that old favorite “Sex Sells.” All the great ad men and women make an appearance, sharing their thoughts and insights. The aim in making this book was not to list all the rules that a budding copywriter or marketer needs to adhere to. Nor did we want to decide which rules are indeed ridiculous and which are valuable words of wisdom. Instead consider this book a source of comfort, joy or good old fun. After all, it’s like American advertising executive Jerry Della Femina (1936) once said: “Advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.”

Also available in the Ridiculous Design Rules series:
Never Use White Type on a Black Background and 50 other Ridiculous Design Rules
Never Leave the House Naked and 50 other Ridiculous Fashion Rules

Click here for a live preview

NEW BOOK OUT: RIDICULOUS FASHION RULES

Never Leave the House Naked and 50 other Ridiculous Fashion Rules.

The international fashion police is a force to be reckoned with. Armed with a seemingly endless list of rules, it dictates all the do’s and don’ts and acts as judge and jury in dealing with those guilty of committing a fashion faux-pas. But while some of the rules that are enforced by the fashion-conscious are nothing short of ridiculous, others serve more as words of wisdom that can prevent people from committing a crime against fashion.

This book contains fifty-one rules like “Dress Your Age", "When in Doubt Wear Red", "Shoes and Bags Must Always Match” and “Never Wear Tights with Open-toed Shoes”, which can be twisted, broken or ignored altogether. Our aim is not to list all the rules that you need to adhere to. Nor do we take sides in the whole rules debate. After all, creativity knows no bounds and therefore it seems rather ridiculous to restrict that creativity by sticking to a couple of age-old rules. However, in some cases the rules seem more like the basic principles of dress that should be loved, honored and obeyed.

Rest assured that whichever side of the fence you sit on in this whole fashion rules debate, you’re bound to find this book a source of inspiration, comfort or joy.

Also available in the Ridiculous Design Rules series:
Never Use White Type on a Black Background and 50 other Ridiculous Design Rules
The Medium is the Message and 50 other Ridiculous Advertising Rules

Click here for a live preview

STREETLAB BUSINESS CASE: 'THE RULES'

Streetlab Businesscase: F*ck the rules! Host Farid Benmbarek talks to author Anneloes van Gaalen about the fifty ridiculous design and fashion rules she discussed in her past books. How ridiculous are those rules? Should you stick to the rules? Business case with interesting examples, which include Gookie (Gummo en Fryling), Jeroen Disch (Lava grafisch ontwerpers) and Ellen Bokkinga (Identity Strategy).

MARCEL WANDERS: AMSTERDAM CREATIVE CAPITAL

On November 27 Dutch designer Marcel Wanders presented his book "Amsterdam’s Creative Capital." The book, edited by Willemijn van Herwijnen, highlights Amsterdam's creative history. Anneloes van Gaalen worked on the book as researcher, translator and copywriter.

2ND PRINT OF RIDICULOUS DESIGN RULES

'Never Use White Type on a Black Background and 50 other Ridiculous Design Rules' is already enjoying its second print run!

ARTMOCO REVIEW

"Never Use White Type on a Black Background: And 50 Other Ridiculous Design Rules by Anneloes van Gaalen is a very tidy little volume that questions the validity of fifty so-called rules pertaining to the world of design.

Through the use of countless quotes, great graphics and a liberal dose of humour, the areas of fashion, product and graphic design, photography and lifestyle are examined with a grain of salt. This is a fun book for designers, rule makers and breakers, or anyone with opinions."
Art MoCo review

INTERVIEW + REVIEW AFRICA'S LEADING DESIGN MAGAZINE

DESIGN> magazine, Africa’s leading multidisciplinary design magazine, published an article with Anneloes van Gaalen, as well as a great review.

"DESIGN> asked van Gaalen why this book is intended to be more than mere fun. Her response: 'The aim was not to list all the rules that a designer needs to adhere to. Nor did I take sides in the whole rules debate. Design is in many ways a universal language. Of course a designer or even consumer brings his or her own cultural baggage to the table, but there are rules and adages that can and will transcend all that. I firmly believe that you need to know your classics.' She ironically quotes an old saying: 'You need to know the rules before you can you can break them.'

Curated Mag summarizes the book's content and intentions quite accurately in its review: 'You’ve probably heard these design adages on several occasions (0r many more). You may even know the history behind them. Even if you do, Anneloes van Gaalen might teach you something. Or, just make you laugh.'

With this book, van Gaalen also challenges a few other rules that are not included in the text such as 'book titles should be short and catchy,' 'books that are intended to inform and educate cannot be written in a style that is cheeky and flavored with irony,' and ultimately, 'Guard against stereotyping! No serious writer on design should call his or her company Paperdoll if they are intelligent, talented, blond and vivacious.' Considering the latter statement, van Gaalen walks the talk and slaughters a few other myths known to the design profession."

WALLPAPER REVIEW

The style bible that is Wallpaper Magazine carried a review of the book on their website...

"The subtitle of this neat little book from Bis Publishers is '… and 50 other ridiculous design rules,' which should give you some idea of the tone. A gentle poke at the strictures and regulations that still echo around the more reactionary studios and ateliers.

Produced by author Anneloes van Gaalen and creative consultancy Lemon Scented Tea, this handy aphorism debunker should help every aspiring creative and client cut through the clichés. Is 'the client always right?' And should you use 'cleavage or legs, never both'?

The book doesn't profess to have any answers, but at least it will steel you for the inevitable clash come presentation time."

See inside this little book designed to help aspiring creatives cut through the clichés

REVIEWS RIDICULOUS DESIGNBOOK

We're working hard on two new editions to the Ridiculous Design Rules series. Never Leave the House Naked (on Ridiculous Fashion Rules) and The Medium is the Message (on Ridiculous Advertising Rules) will come out later this year.

Meanwhile, press and public alike are still raving about the first book Never Use White Type on a Black Background: and 50 other Ridiculous Design Rules. We've uploaded a few of the reviews, there are more, but they still need to be scanned.

http://issuu.com/paperdollwriting

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RAVE REVIEW

VOLKSKRANT REVIEW

'Voor dit alleraardigste boekje grasduinde en googelde Anneloes van Gaalen 51 stelregels, wijsheden en vooroordelen bij elkaar over (grafisch) ontwerp. Ze vertelt waar ze vandaan komen, onderbouwt ze én weerlegt ze. In woord en beeld. Al vanaf de voorpagina: die is zwart, de titel is in wit gezet. Hetzelfde geldt natuurlijk voor het hoofdstukje over deze boude stelling.' - Jan Pieter Ekker in de Volkskrant.

COOL HUNTING READING LIST

Cool Hunting Summer 2009 Reading List

"With the dog days of summer just around the corner, our thoughts turn to languid afternoons spent in the park, on the beach or the backyard—if we're lucky enough to have one. Few activities are better for the slow life than a quiet summer read. With that in mind, we asked Cool Hunting contributors to offer up their suggestions for this season's most enjoyable and inspirational books. We're confident you'll find a title or two that suits your taste as well."

Ridiculous Design Rules made the list:
Never Use White Type on a Black Background: And 50 Other Ridiculous Design Rules by Anneloes van Gaalen
"50 Ridiculous Design Rules" presents a collection of inspirational and delusional design jargon intended to question preconceived notions of layout, type, and technique. An interactive website even lets savvy designers weigh in with their own silly and sometimes insightful axioms. Available now through BIS Publishers for €15 and for pre-order on Amazon.—Kelsey Keith

INDIE BRANDS: MARCH 2010

Author: Anneloes van Gaalen |
Publisher: BIS |
Design: Day | English | 224 pages |
Hardcover | 27 x 21 cm | € 39 |
ISBN 978 90 6369 219 3 |
Publication date: March 2010

NEW RIDICULOUS RULES BOOK

Ridiculous Fashion and Advertising Rules will hit bookstores in October 2009, Ridiculous Typography and Web Rules will come out in March 2010.
www.ridiculousdesignrules.com

WHAT THE PRESS IS SAYING

“A new book entitled ‘Never Use White Type on a Black Background’ by Anneloes van Gaalen makes design platitudes up into fullspread graphics accompanied by a series of quotes that show how the saying was revised, rethought and, in some cases, rejected over time. The result is a small-scale oral history of each rule.”
Fast Company

"The subtitle of this neat little book from Bis Publishers is '… and 50 other ridiculous design rules,' which should give you some idea of the tone. A gentle poke at the strictures and regulations that still echo around the more reactionary studios and ateliers. Produced by author Anneloes van Gaalen and creative consultancy Lemon Scented Tea, this handy aphorism debunker should help every aspiring creative and client cut through the clichés."
Wallpaper

"Anneloes van Gaalen has gathered some of the better known rules as they relate to the design discipline, including fashion, typography, art and advertising. The illustrated book is peppered with quotes from the famous and not-so-famous; like a condensed version of Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, but for design professionals."
Daily Icon

"'50 Ridiculous Design Rules' presents a collection of inspirational and delusional design jargon intended to question preconceived notions of layout, type, and technique."
Cool Hunting

“You’ve probably heard these design adages on several occasions (0r many more). You may even know the history behind them. Even if you do, Anneloes van Gaalen might teach you something. Or, just make you laugh. “
Curated Mag

“Are we seeing the birth of a new series like the hugely popular “Dummies” series? I don’t think it’s too ridiculous an assumption to make, do you?”
Marketingweb

“The title of the book breaks all the rules about how book titles should be short and catchy, which is the same sort of cheeky irony that flavours the rest of the text.”
Design.nl

“Mandatory reading for every design student. Entertaining to all those interested in design. And a good tool to keep designers on their toes. Highly recommended.”
moorsmagazine

“Writers Anneloes van Gaalen is an avid follower of design and fashion. in her new book ridiculous design rules, she frivolously analyzes the rules of design and fashion and lays bare all the dos and don’ts for you to follow…or to ignore.”
Superfuture

MINT MAGAZINE

I had the pleasure of teaching at AMFI this past semester and am very proud of the magazine the students went on to make together with Frank Jurgen Wijlens and Charlotte Lokin.

Open publication - Free publishing - More mint

RIDICULOUS RULES ON BOOMERANG

PREVIEW BOOK

Open publication - Free publishing - More background

NEW BOOK COMING OUT

Never Use White Type on a Black Background: and 50 other Ridiculous Design Rules

The world of design is inundated with a seemingly endless list of rules. “Less is More,” “Form Follows Function,” “Keep it Simple,” “Dress Your Age,” and the list goes on and on. Some designers consider these rules as valuable words of wisdom, which serve as a guiding line and source of inspiration. Others perceive them as mere restrictions: design dogmas and fashion formulae that need to be bended, twisted or broken altogether.

Whichever side of the fence you sit on in this whole rules debate, you’re bound to find this book a source of inspiration, comfort, joy or just plain old fun.

Because, ultimately, every rule related to, or governing, design is ridiculous.

ISBN: 978-90-6369-207-0
Author & Editorial Director: Anneloes van Gaalen
Design: Lilian van Dongen Torman
Notes: Publishing date: May 2009
Format: hardcover
Dimensions: 12 x 17 cm
Pages: 160