Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Comprehensive and inspiring, the book is packed with insightful and thought-provoking commentary. It introduces the concept of illustration as a form of language and visual communication, conveying ideas, messages and emotions for cultural consumption. It looks at the illustrator as the inventor of imaginary worlds from folklore, legends and myths to the immersive virtual worlds of the Internet, such as Second Life.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This volume by graphic designer Wigan, part of a series that offers overviews of various design topics, focuses on international themes. Using images from designers worldwide, the work succeeds very well in its capacity as a basic textbook for students. Divided into six chapters, with short introductions, it comprises mainly illustrations, with helpful insights into chapter topics in general and a focus on specific themes or particular illustrations. Suggested projects at the end of each chapter help students understand, experientially, the elements of design discussed. Attractively designed for a visually oriented audience, the book showcases imagery in a variety of styles, giving students exposure to design approaches from a multicultural perspective. Included are a glossary of terms used in the text; a list of reference materials, Web sites, and magazines for inspiration; and a contacts section with URLs of design firms from around the world. Global Contexts should be useful to any beginning designer or illustrator; the series as a whole is a welcome addition to the "classroom in a book" type of instructional material. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates, two-year technical program students, and general readers. C. Larry Northern Illinois University