Design Recent Picks

September 2009

The underlined titles will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

The Handy Book of Artistic Printing: Collection of Letterpress Examples with Specimens of Type, Ornament, Corner Fills, Borders, Twisters, Wrinklers, and other Freaks of Fancy by Doug Clouse & Angela Voulangas
"These luscious typographic bon bons will astonish your eye, stun your mind, and rekindle your darkest cravings." (June, 2009)
Ellen Lupton, curator of contemporary design Cooper - Hewitt, National Design Museum

Typomofo: Type Morphing into Forms by Kelly Cheng
"Typography is a powerful medium of visual communication and personal expression, and with the proliferation of digital tools that fuse traditional and cutting-edge techniques, modern typography is becoming increasingly experimental. From pen and ink drawings and digital renderings to the use of mixed media, Typomofo showcases works that demonstrate how contemporary type has developed and morphed. Each of the 100 projects is accompanied with details including production methods to show how the typography is conceptualised and applied. A great resource for designers and illustrators." (publishedart.com)

1,000 Type Treatments: From Script to Serif, Letterforms Used to Perfection by Wilson Harvey
"The ability to wield typography is one of those things that is a clear indication of a talented designer. Being able to craft type well and thoughtfully takes a deep understanding of the inherent complexities and a keen eye for the minute and subtle details. This book contains a collection of 1,000 instances of thoughtful type usage along with credits that note what fonts were used in the design. Like its predecessor, 1,000 Graphic Elements, the photography in this book focuses in on the typography so readers can get an up-close look at the work.The book is organized by style so if a designer has a traditional, elegant, or edgy piece, they can go directly to that section of the book, where they will find a wide collection of fresh ideas in the style they are seeking." (Amazon)

Font: Classic Typefaces for Contemporary Graphic Design by Tamye Riggs
"Font provides a fully integrated visual sourcebook of classic fonts that still resonate with contemporary style for todays graphic designers. Each font featured in the book is accompanied by the main character set of the principal font along with typesheet style examples of the font with specifications. The characteristics of each font, such as vertically stressed oblique serifs or abrupt contrasts, will be highlighted, and the main font will be juxtaposed with other similar fonts for easy cross-referencing." (Amazon)

Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids by Beth Tondreau
"Adhering to certain layout and grids standards and principles is important for any job from brochures, to annual reports, to posters, to websites, to publications. However, knowing how to bend the rules and make certain grids work for the job at hand takes skill. This book will outline and demonstrate basic layout/grid guidelines and rules through 100 entries including choosing the a typeface for the project, striving for rhythm and balance with type, combining typefaces, using special characters and kerning and legibility. These essentials of grid design are critical to the success of any job." (Amazon)

Playful Type: Ephemeral Lettering and Illustrative Fonts by R. Klanten & H. Hellige
"Playful Type examines how designers today are creating typography with the aid
of a multitude of different techniques. From manual lettering, calligraphy and collage to manipulative time exposure of photographs, designers are developing fonts for the moment which are irregular and often accidental. Blocks of ice are even being staged as real characters and paper cut forms and shadows metamorphose into letters and spatial installations. This book shows such cutting edge examples of elusive scripts that are being translated into serially employable alphabets to be used digitally with the computer. Playful Type presents an inspiring collection of illustrative fonts and hand-made typography created from a variety of cutting-edge approaches and indicates current development in font design." (Amazon)

Animation in Processby Andrew Selby
"Whether it be characters advertising products on television, from pseudo live action through to virtual environments, animation is able to transcend boundaries to new audiences. "Animation in Process" is an in-depth exploration of working methods and processes used by the best animators working today. It goes behind the highly polished features of current animation, and shows previously unseen material such as sketches, working drawings, storyboards, and other work in progress that documents the animators craft. It shows how artists, designers, filmmakers, programmers, directors, writers, and producers have seized the chance to entertain using a versatile and compelling medium." (Amazon)

Paper Engineering Revised & Expanded Edition: 3-D design techniques for a 2-D materialby Natalie Avella
"Paper Engineering explores graphic design that extends beyond 2D. From a simple fold in a letterhead to the structural intricacies of a pop-up book, the construction of a 3D paper object requires as much input as its surface decoration. This stylish and inspirational book unfolds the conceptual complexities of paper engineering, studying the techniques of eminent international designers. Case studies are illustrated with photographs of finished work, as well as detailed diagrams and commentary. Now available in a fully revised and extended edition, Paper Engineering also explores the functions of paper architecture in graphic design, ranging from greeting cards to invitations and from point-of-sale to packaging." (Amazon)

Churchward international typefaces By David Bennewith
"The first steps towards the publication Churchward International Typefaces were taken in 2005, when former Design researcher David Bennewith came into contact with the Samoan-born typeface designer Joseph Churchward. The many photographs, letters, anecdotes, bills, newspaper articles, but most of all the modest enthusiasm of researcher Bennewith make Churchward International Typefaces reach far beyond the world of alphabet design. After reading this book, one will never be able to select a typeface again without thinking of Marianna." (www.janvaneyck.nl/0_4_3_publications).

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