Ben Hannam shares his expertise in ‘Graphic Design for Dummies’ | Today at Elon
Published in January by Wiley Publishers, Hannam’s book serves as a comprehensive, full-color guide to graphic design for beginners.
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Ben Hannam knows a thing or two about graphic design – but could he distill decades of experience into a book in just six months? That was the challenge presented to the chair of the Department of Communication Design when Wiley Publishers contacted him to write “Graphic Design For Dummies” under a tight deadline.
Hannam, who spent two years writing his first book and another year on his second, had to drastically adjust his writing process to meet the accelerated timeline. Unlike his previous works, which leaned on a more narrative approach, “Graphic Design For Dummies” follows the signature style of the instructional reference series – concise, structured, and packed with bullet points and callouts.
“I wasn’t used to this type of writing format,” Hannam said. “They gave me a book called ‘Writing a Dummies Book for Dummies.’”
His latest book, which spans 272 pages, is designed to be accessible to a broad audience. The Elon professor envisions it as a resource for high school students working on their yearbooks, community college students exploring a career in design, and even professionals looking to refine their skills.
“I wanted to equip readers with tools they could carry into their programs, their careers – really, into any design project,” Hannam said. “It’s full of things I wish someone had told me when I was starting out.”
The far-reaching influence of the “For Dummies” series was a major draw for Hannam. “If you go to any Barnes & Noble from here to California, you’ll find the ‘Dummies’ series, whether it’s for fixing your car or getting an iPad,” he said. The chance to contribute to such a well-known and widely distributed brand was one he couldn’t pass up.
Collaboration played a key role in the book’s development. Several students, including recent graduates Matt Newberry ’24, Hadley Kaeyer ’24, Shelby Bryant ’24, Caroline Mitchell ’24 and Ryan Margaret Lee ’24, contributed drawings, designs and feedback.
“Not only does it feel incredibly validating and rewarding to be acknowledged by a faculty member that you respect, but it felt even more surreal to contribute to a project with such widespread distribution like ‘Dummies,’” Newberry said. “As a designer, seeing your work and name out in the world is the best feeling — even if it’s just some sketches.”
Shortly after publication, Hannam said he received an email from Lee congratulating him and sharing that she bought five copies to share with friends. Even Hannam’s eldest child served as a review reader.
The response to “Graphic Design For Dummies” has been overwhelmingly positive. Before its release, the book secured 800 preorders – more than any of Hannam’s previous works.
“I’ve had people coming out of the woodwork asking me to sign their copies,” he said. “That’s something new for me.”
Despite the intense writing process, Hannam is proud of the final product and its potential to make graphic design more approachable. “This aligns with my goal of being helpful and sharing what I know,” he said. “At the end of the day, if it helps people get started in design, then I’ve done my job.”
“Graphic Design For Dummies” is now available at major booksellers nationwide, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
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