Debbie Millman
Debbie Millman’s Notable Books of 2011
In reviewing my recommendations for Notable Books of 2011, I was struck by an unexpected common denominator: the subtext of each contends with a journey. Some are more overt and easy to identify—the visual navigation of a corporation’s identity, for example, or the evolution of a career. Several are more abstract and expressive and recount a struggle to change one’s path in life or leave a partner in crime. Others steadfastly describe the trajectory and influence of patterns and trends, symbols and semiotics.
Whether these chosen books reveal the heartbreaking struggle of self-realization or celebrate the courage of a dramatic leap, one thing is clear: 2011 was a year of transition and change. While not quite a full-on metamorphosis, it has certainly made for some remarkable reading.
Nonfiction, Graphic Design
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The firm of Chermayeff & Geismar has created some of the most memorable logos in the history of graphic design, including the NBC Peacock, Chase Bank’s Blue Octagon, and (literally) hundreds of others. This book reveals the history and process of creating many of the world’s most iconic marks.
Bob Gill’s revolutionary work first burst on the scene in the 1960s and his remarkable career has known no bounds. Gill’s monograph is one part reference, one part memoir and one part catalogue of astonishing design.
“I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.” So starts the heartbreaking new novel by Lemony Snicket author Daniel Handler and illustrator/national treasure Maira Kalman. A story of romance gone wrong from a teenage perspective, this book is a charming, bittersweet look at lost love.
Pentagram partner Angus Hyland co-wrote and aggregated this encyclopedia-esque bible of symbols—over 1,300 of them. Organized by graphic genre, the book deconstructs many of the world’s greatest logos by symbol: shape, form—even hearts. Not only is Symbol overloaded with images, it is written with a warm, wonderful wit.
Fashion designer Todd Oldham discovered the work of Charley Harper in 2001 and collaborated with him until his death in 2007. Together, they navigated through Harper’s extensive archive to create an exuberant, joyful monograph. This 2011 edition is a miniature, more affordable version of the original book; while smaller, its spirit and eloquence are in no way diminished.
Announcements
Louis Kahn: Architecture as Philosophy by John Lobell
Louis Kahn: Architecture as Philosophy
By John Lobell
Publisher: The Monacelli Press
Published: June 2020
Noted Louis I.Kahn expert John Lobell explores how Kahn’s focus on structure, respect for materials, clarity of program, and reverence for details come together to manifest an overall philosophy.
Our Days Are Like Full Years: A Memoir with Letters from Louis Kahn by Harriet Pattison
Our Days Are Like Full Years: A Memoir with Letters from Louis Kahn
By Harriet Pattison
Publisher: Yale University Press
Forthcoming: October 2020
An intimate glimpse into the professional and romantic relationship between Harriet Pattison and the renowned architect Louis Kahn. Harriet Pattison, FASLA, is a distinguished landscape architect. She was Louis Kahn’s romantic partner from 1959 to 1974, and his collaborator on the landscapes of the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, and the F.D.R. Memorial/Four Freedoms Park, New York. She is the mother of their son, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn.
Louis I. Kahn: The Nordic Latitudes
Louis I. Kahn: The Nordic Latitudes
By Per Olaf Fjeld and Emily Randall Fjeld
Publisher: University of Arkansas Press
Published: October 4, 2019
A new and personal reading of the architecture, teachings, and legacy of Louis I. Kahn from Per Olaf Fjeld’s perspective as a former student. The book explores Kahn’s life and work, offering a unique take on one of the twentieth century’s most important architects. Kahn’s Nordic and European ties are emphasized in this study that also covers his early childhood in Estonia, his travels, and his relationships with other architects, including the Norwegian architect Arne Korsmo.
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Reading Graphic Design History: Image, Text, and Context by David Raizman
Reading Graphic Design History: Image, Text, and Context
By David Raizman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Published: December 2020
An innovative approach to graphic design that uses a series of key artifacts from the history of print culture in light of their specific historical contexts. It encourages the reader to look carefully and critically at print advertising, illustration, posters, magazine art direction, and typography, often addressing issues of class, race, and gender.
David King: Designer, Activist, Visual Historian by Rick Poynor
David King: Designer, Activist, Visual Historian
By Rick Poynor
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: September 2020
A comprehensive overview of the work and legacy of David King (1943–2016), whose fascinating career bridged journalism, graphic design, photography, and collecting. King launched his career at Britain’s Sunday Times Magazine in the 1960s, starting as a designer and later branching out into image-led journalism, blending political activism with his design work.
Teaching Graphic Design History by Steven Heller
Teaching Graphic Design History
By Steven Heller
Publisher: Allworth Press
Published: June 2019
An examination of the concerted efforts, happy accidents, and key influences of the practice throughout the years, Teaching Graphic Design History is an illuminating resource for students, practitioners, and future teachers of the subject.
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