"Many designers or agencies might scoff at the notion of a “non-designer” being able to learn and understand the principles to help them arrive at a design."
They would, except that most of them were once non-designers who learned the principles of design. That is how you become a designer.
Or maybe he means non-designers can learn how to design by reading a book? Yeah, I guess designers would scoff at that - reading helps, but you really have to practice to be any good.
I agree. I finished "The Non-Designer's Design Book," which seems to be universally regarded as the sine qua non of beginning design; then immediately applied my new skills to a redesign of my dad's 1998-frontpage-website. Long story short, after about 8 hours of work on the homepage, it still doesn't look much better.
They would, except that most of them were once non-designers who learned the principles of design. That is how you become a designer.
Or maybe he means non-designers can learn how to design by reading a book? Yeah, I guess designers would scoff at that - reading helps, but you really have to practice to be any good.