I was not familiar with the author by name, but I am not at all surprised to realize I’m very familiar with her extensive portfolio! As a digital artist myself, the technical side didn’t tell me much I didn’t already know. I love seeing the process of other artists and this book absolutely delivers! Her lettering is obviously top notch! She does things with letterforms that would never have crossed my mind. I can see how lots of people would take inspiration from it.

I am a home bookbinder so my review will be from the perspective of a home hobbyist. And I think for a cover designer, <i>In Progress</i> has a lot to offer!

Hirsche is the designer of the covers for the <i>Barnes and Noble</i> leatherbound classics and this book feels like a crash course on how to incorporate hand lettering in book cover design. I was floored by how many famous logos she has designed. She takes you under the hood showing you her entire process from sketch to final, including subtle iterations. I now know more about bezier handles, swash terminals, anchor points, letterform angles, than I thought I ever would from reading this book. Some of the advice is so solid, especially for the chapter on vector lettering (must remember to not make serifs too pointy...)

I encourage folks to check out this book when it comes out on May 6th.

"This revised edition of design-world darling Jessica Hische's career-spanning art book offers a fascinating inside look at her work in progress, featuring highlights from her most exciting recent projects and new tips for lettering with digital tools.

In Progress is an inspiring and informative book that showcases the creative prowess and technical expertise behind artist, author, and type designer Jessica Hische's distinctive lettering and typography styles. In explanatory captions throughout these pages, Hische guides readers through the phases of each hand-lettered project - for major clients such as Wes Anderson, NPR, Nike, and more - from gathering inspiration and sketching out rough ideas to revising and refining final designs.

With this new edition, readers have the chance to:
-Revisit the beloved artist's sketchbook.
-Follow the evolution of her process over the arc of her career.
-Learn more about how Hische has integrated digital tools into her practice.
-Discover more ways to be creative and improve one's own work.

NEW MATERIAL: This revised edition offers up-to-date information about Hische's technical process and go-to tools. Learn more about her approach to drawing digitally on an iPad and delve into inspiring new projects, following them from the first sketch to the final design.

DESIGN WORLD LEGEND: Considered a pioneer in the modern lettering movement, Jessica Hische has enjoyed a multi-faceted career with a diverse range of compelling projects - from blockbuster movie titles, book covers, and logo redesigns to original posters and prints. She's spoken at over 100 conferences, colleges, and other design events on nearly every continent, including FITC, Creative Mornings, AIGA, The Brand New Conference, the Build Conference, and more.

IN-DEPTH VISUAL RESOURCE: A perfect self-purchase or gift for artists and designers of all levels, from aspiring letterers to professional illustrators looking to hone their skills. With more than 250 full-color images and metallic silver ink used throughout to represent Hische's penciled sketches, this highly visual book is an essential - and entirely enjoyable - resource for those who practice the art of hand lettering or calligraphy or for anyone who appreciates typography in all its styles and forms. The book also includes a preface by internationally celebrated creative director, graphic designer, type designer, and author Louise Fili.

Perfect for:
-Admirers of Jessica Hische's lettering work and followers of her popular social media accounts
-Hand-lettering and calligraphy fans
-Art and design students, professionals, and enthusiasts
-Professional designers
-Bullet journalers, casual creatives, people looking for new artistic hobbies"

Um, I'm literally everyone this book is "perfect for."

(Thanks to Chronicle Books for providing an eARC.)

There were a lot of valuable insights into the author's work; there were images of the initial sketches, ideas presented to the clients, and the final designs. The author also includes a lot of notes about her process and why certain changes to designs were made. The only parts I thought could be improved were changing the color of the background of the sections where there's black text on a dark red-orange background and making some of the handwritten notes more legible. Overall, I found the information invaluable and loved reading about the author's design process.