Sam Hecht
Sam Hecht’s Book List
I like books. In fact, I make a book for every project I do. I like the designers of books, too, because when they are successful, they make the book worth far more than the material it is on. Books that resonate with me most are ones that have little or no imagery. These are few and far between, because there seems to be too much imagery these days. I like to imagine what the writer is describing. Here are some of these books I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy.
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I was given this book as a child by my mother when she first opened a bank account for me. I have kept it ever since, and I look back at it quite regularly. It is a book that says a lot about what makes a designer. A designer is someone who must understand how systems work. He must then acknowledge that all systems are artificial, and then adopt them and alter them for his own means. I am not suggesting anarchy, and neither does this book—rather, it is a small and legal subversion. For instance, when we receive a form from a company or government department, our instinct is to fill it out and return it. But maybe next time you find yourself having to write to a company, why not create your own official form—designed, of course, with all of those details like “please leave blank for official use”—and make the company fill it out and return it. Oh, and the book was actually written by Sir Patrick Moore (R. T. Fishall was his pen name), the astronomer who spent his life making sense of the universe.
I have read this book twice. It is a very difficult book—very theoretical and dry—but you need to give it time. I feel that Mari is one of the most multi-dimensional designers there has ever been. He comes across as very hard and uncompromising, but I believe that he is very playful in his mind. His countless toys and books show this. In the end he is mysterious, and in this mystery he at least introduces ideas and history that are hardly discussed in current design.
If you have the time and patience, this is a fantastic book—full of secrets. I was introduced to it by a friend and was so impressed by its presentation and simplicity. The book itself was designed by Ikko Tanaka, who was the creator of Muji.
This book I have read about four times. It is very clever, very personal, and short. Zumthor’s description of his process is inspirational not because it is so revolutionary but rather because it is uncompromising. You can tell he is on a continuous journey of understanding himself in the context of the world around us, and he has a mission that must be delivered. I have great respect for that, and for this book.
I have read this book about four times—and at different times of my life. In my opinion it should be read by every design student. While I was a professor at Karlsruhe University I was surprised that few of my students had heard of it, let alone the writer and designer, Otl Aicher. Why is it so important? I believe that too many designers have lost the ability to realize that projects are ultimately for people—not the company. Aicher explains this very clearly, and as his rationale is very cutting, it would be hard to argue with.
Announcements
Total Armageddon: A Slanted Reader on Design edited by Ian Lynam
Total Armageddon: A Slanted Reader on Design
Edited by Ian Lynam
Publisher: Slanted Publishers
Published: March 2019
Total Armageddon is about design. And culture. And complexity, notably how we, as a global civilization, deal with science fiction, taste, social media, the cities we live in, aesthetics, PowerPoint, burkas, Big Tech, full-contact sports, and other thorny topics. The book celebrates 15 years of independent publishing and brings together a who’s who of authors and essays from 32 issues of Slanted Magazine.
A Field Guide to Color by Lisa Solomon
A Field Guide to Color: A Watercolor Workbook
By Lisa Solomon
Publisher: Roost Books
Published: August 2019
In this creative workbook you’ll discover fresh ways to connect with color in your art and life. Using watercolors, gouache, or any other water-based medium, explore color theory while playing with paint through a balanced blend of color experiments and loose color meditations. This inspiring workbook will change the way you relate to color
Five Oceans in a Teaspoon by Dennis Bernstein and Warren Lehrer
Five Oceans in a Teaspoon
Poems by Dennis Bernstein
Visualizations by Warren Lehrer
Introduction by Steven Heller
Publisher: Paper Crown Press
Published: September 19, 2019
“From a kidnap note for a world held hostage by an A-bomb, to a Holocaust survivor’s tattooed arms where the numbers just don’t add up, Five Oceans in a Teaspoon re-envisions a poetry memoir via a textual kaleidoscope... Bernstein and Lehrer are the Rodgers and Hart of Visual Poetry.” — Bob Holman, poet, poetry activist and chronicler, and founder of the Bowery Poetry Club
Ballpark: Baseball in the American City by Paul Goldberger
Ballpark: Baseball in the American City
By Paul Goldberger
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Published: May 2019
An illustrated, entirely new look at the history of baseball: told through the stories of the vibrant and ever-changing ballparks where the game was and is staged, by the Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic.
Charleston Fancy by Witold Rybczynski
Charleston Fancy: Little Houses and Big Dreams in the Holy City
By Witold Rybczynski
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: May 2019
Charleston, South Carolina, which boasts America’s first historic district, is known for its palmetto-lined streets and picturesque houses. The Holy City, named for its profusion of churches, exudes an irresistible charm. Award-winning author and cultural critic Witold Rybczynski unfolds a series of stories about a group of youthful architects, builders, and developers based in Charleston: a self-taught home builder, an Air Force pilot, a fledgling architect, and a bluegrass mandolin player.
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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