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Architecture and the Illustrated Book

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From Palladio to Frank Lloyd Wright, architects have brought their work to the printed page with exquisite results.

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Besides books illustrated by artists, the books that are most appealing to me are those that deal with architecture—whether history, theory or practice. While these books are collected by both institutions and private collectors, it is still a largely overlooked field, and were it not for the habit of breaking books up for their plates, there would be a plentiful supply of the majority of titles. Luckily this habit, which was in full swing in the 1980s and ‘90s, has largely ended.

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Now is Better by Stefan Sagmeister

Now is Better

By Stefan Sagmeister
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Published: October 2023

Combining art, design, history, and quantitative analysis, transforms data sets into stunning artworks that underscore his positive view of human progress, inspiring us to think about the future with much-needed hope.

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Design Emergency: Building a Better Future by Alice Rawsthorn and Paola Antonelli

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By Alice Rawsthorn and Paola Antonelli
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Published: May 2022

Rawsthorn and Antonelli tell the stories of the remarkable designers, architects, engineers, artists, scientists, and activists who are at the forefront of positive change worldwide. Focusing on four themes—Technology, Society, Communication, and Ecology—the authors present a unique portrait of how our great creative minds are developing new design solutions to the major challenges of our time, while helping us to benefit from advances in science and technology.

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Contributions by Roxane Gay
Publisher: Timber Press
Published: April 15, 2025

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By Steven Heller, Mirko Ilić, and Beth Kleber
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Die Fläche: Design and Lettering of the Vienna Secession, 1902–1911 (Facsimile Edition) by Diane V. Silverthorne, Dan Reynolds, and Megan Brandow-Faller

Die Fläche: Design and Lettering of the Vienna Secession, 1902–1911 (Facsimile Edition)

By Diane V. Silverthorne, Dan Reynolds, and Megan Brandow-Faller
Publisher: Letterform Archives Books
Published: October 2023

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