Design Recent Picks

August 2010

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 Design of Design: Essays from a Computer Scientist by Frederick P. Brooks
"Effective design is at the heart of everything from software development to engineering to architecture. But what do we really know about the design process? What leads to effective, elegant designs? The Design of Design addresses these questions. These new essays by Fred Brooks contain extraordinary insights for designers in every discipline. Brooks pinpoints constants inherent in all design projects and uncovers processes and patterns likely to lead to excellence. Drawing on conversations with dozens of exceptional designers, as well as his own experiences in several design domains, Brooks observes that bold design decisions lead to better outcomes."(Amazon)

1000 New Designs 2 and Where to Find Them by Jennifer Hudson
"1000 New Designs 2 and Where to Find Them is a comprehensive round-up of the best in contemporary design. Featuring a huge range of striking new products, chapters include: Tables and chairs; Sofas and beds; Storage; Kitchens and bathrooms; Tableware; Textiles; Lighting; Electronics, and more."(Amazon)

Once Upon a Chair: Furniture Beyond the Icon by R. Klanten (Author, Editor), S. Ehmann (Editor), A. Kupetz (Editor), S. Moreno (Editor)
"A global up-to-the-minute survey of contemporary furniture and interior design a reference to the Zeitgeist and the best designers today. Furnish: Edition 2010 is a detailed international survey of current trends and developments in furniture and interior design.The book further explores how designers are focusing more on process-driven and storytelling concepts to create furniture systems that are flexible, crafted in a collage-like manner or even decorative objects that serve as interior installations.A continuing flirtation with organic forms can also be seen with pioneering examples of material and technological experimentation, many of which are characterised by an unrestrained, playful attitude with an ironic exuberance."(Amazon)

Ripped: T-Shirts from the Underground by Cesar Padilla (Author), Lydia Lunch (Introduction), Betsey Johnson (Contributor), Will Oldham (Contributor)
"A visual history of counterculture music T-shirts, spanning the defining era of indie music. Ripped is the first book to document the shirts of the post-punk and indie period, after the submission of 1960s rock ‘n’ roll to mass popularity and before the onset of ironic consumerism. Carefully selected from the archives of vintage fashion collector Cesar Padilla, the 200 T-shirts in this book are classic examples of rare and extremely limited shirts created by and for the very bands who embodied the true essence of the DIY and indie movements—from The Ramones to Sonic Youth, John Cale, Talking Heads, Madonna, X, Pil, The Germs, and many others. Each shirt has been photographed in all its gritty, sweat-stained glory just as it was found—on the street, in a thrift store, or inherited from a friend. Introduced by Lydia Lunch, the book includes recollections and ruminations from musicians, fashion designers, and pop culture personalities on the enigmatic and enduring appeal of the rock band T-shirt."(Amazon)

This is Advertising by Eliza Williams
"This is Advertising addresses the changes that are occurring within advertising, from the perspective of key figures within the industry. Each deals with a key emerging trend—digital, branded, ambient, integrated, and self-initiated. Featuring in total over 80 projects as well as ten-in-depth interviews by a selection of leading advertising figures, it offers an insightful overview for students or anyone involved with or interested in the current world of advertising."(Amazon)

American Trademarks: From the Roaring '20s to the Swinging '60s by Eric Baker (Editor), Tyler Blik (Editor), Steven Heller (Introduction)
"While they were in print, the three volumes of Eric Baker and Tyler Blik's classic Trademarks series (which together sold 60,000 copies) were the authoritative books of logo design by decade. This definitive collection is now available in an expanded single volume with essays by contemporary graphic design luminaries such as Paula Scher, Stephen Doyle, and many more. Over 1,000 iconic trademarks are packed into this extra-chunky paperback. While the original books have long enjoyed cult status, this attractive, updated edition will win legions of new fans among today's ever-increasingly design-savvy public."(Amazon)

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