From Library Journal
Back to basics is Rand's refrain in this latest volume of his Yale series (e.g., Design, Form and Chaos, 1993; A Designer's Art, 1985). Visually and verbally arresting, the present title successfully distills major tenets from Rand's critically acclaimed career in graphic design, advertising, and academia. The first half is a primer, complete with large type, of fundamental aesthetic and design principles as appropriate for children, according to the author, as it is for adults. The second half connects elements of quality design to real-world problems through conceptual studies of logo designs, a typographic debate, and an appraisal and elaboration of Henry Petroski's The Evolution of Useful Things (LJ 12/92). Discriminating, erudite, and eclectic in its examples, this work clearly and convincingly communicates Rand's commonsense approach to the pursuit of quality in design theory and process. Highly recommended for all academic libraries.
Russell T. Clement, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Russell T. Clement, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
One of the world`s leading graphic designers here awakens readers to the lessons of the cave paintings of Lascaux-that art is intuitive, autonomous, and timeless. Paul Rand shows how this is so in works of art regardless of era, place, purpose, style, or genre. He presents a primer on aesthetics and illustrates his ideas with examples of his own stunning graphic work as well as with an eclectic collection of masterpieces.
