本书是美国爱荷华大学荣誉退休教授胡宏述总结从事近40年设计教育的经验编著而成的。书中的主要构成是从26个设计论点发展出28个习作，通过很多习作，引导学生学习一些基本设计概念，一步一步学习设计方面的最基本问题，从一个新的角度去了解几何上的一些关系。

本书可作为工业设计、建筑学等专业学生的教材。

本书是美国爱荷华大学荣誉退休教授胡宏述总结从事近40年设计教育的经验编著而成的。数十年来，胡宏述先生沉浸于他的专业之中。他是一位杰出的教师，身兼设计家、画家、雕塑家、建筑师、哲学家、工艺师和制造者。

本书主要构成是从26个设计论点发展出28个习作，通过很多习作，引导学生学习一些基本设计概念，一步一步学习设计方面的最基本问题，从一个新的角度去了解几何上的一些关系。

本书可作为工业设计、建筑学等专业学生的教材，也可供其他专业学生接触艺术教育时参考使用。

Introduction Philosophy of Basic Design

 Issue 1 Design is as important as Mathematics

 Issue 2 Design with Wisdom, Reason, and Sensibility

 Issue 3 How to Improve Sensibility

 issue 4 Forcing Oneself to be Different

 Issue 5 Always Right

 Issue 6 Decided by the Truth

 Issue 7 Geometric Instruments vs. Computer Graphics

 Issue 8 Three Basic Forms: Square, Equilateral Triangle, and Circle

 issue 9 Squares, Equilateral Triangles and Circles are Close Relatives

 Issue 10 Design and Geometry as One

 Issue 11 Organic Geometry--Rationale to Create a Form

 Issue 12 The True Meaning of the Golden Section

 issue 13 Introducing the Irrational Number

 Issue 14 Music Composed with Rational Time and Performed with Irrational Numbers

 Issue 15 Geometry is the Source of Irrational Numbers

 Issue 16 A Circle within a Circle

 Issue 17 Equilateral Triangle as a Seed

 Issue 18 Sensibility from Our Hearts

 Issue 19 The Three "S" Principles for a Line

 Issue 20 2D &3D Should be Taught Together

 Issue 21 Design and Craft

 Issue 22 Blueprint is Required

 Issue 23 Three Forbidden Drawing Methods for a Designer

 Issue 24 Learning How to Simplify

 Issue 25 All Assignments are Related

 Issue 26 This is Why

Part One Adding a Third Dimension to a Square

 Introduction

 Assignment 1 One Surface, One Edge x 12

 Assignment 2 Is the Problem Solved?

 Assignment 3 Organic Geometry: a Refined Translation

 Assignment 4 Forms in Progression

 Assignment 5 Making the Best from the Worst

 Assignment 6 Geometric Refinement

 Assignment 7 Finding a Seamless Connection

 Assignment 8 Enlarge and Reduce

 Summary

Part Two Relationship Between Two

 Introduction

 Assignment 1 Joining Paper to Paper x 24

 Assignment 2 The Top Eight

 Assignment 3 Geometry and Plan View Drawing

 Assignment 4 Multi -view Drawing

 Assignment 5 Isometric Drawing

 Assignment 6 Isometric Ambiguity

 Assignment 7 Lines in Space

 Assignment 8 Three -dimensional Ambiguity

 Assignment 9 A Letterform in an Isometric Universe

 Assignment 10 25 More for the Alphabet

 Summary

Part Three Visual Connection

 Introduction

 Assignment 1 Logotype Design

 Assignment 2 Geometric Refinement

 Assignment 3 Circles: a Side Trip

 Assignment 4 A Set of Two Drawings to Refine a Logo

 Assignment 5 Variations of the Logotype

 Assignment 6 Modular Warm up

 Assignment 7 The Logo Goes Modular

 Assignment 8 Modules into Units

 Assignment 9 Ambiguous Forms as Modules

 Assignment 10 Modules in the Third Dimension

 Summary

Appendix

 Appendix 1 List of Tools and Materials

 Appendix 2 Basic Geometry

 Appendix 3 Art and Science

 Appendix 4 The New Mission of Design Education