Book Review: Interaction of Color

If anything will remind you to appreciate the tangible wonder of books, it’s Joseph Albers’s Set, Interaction of Color. The new release of his original 1963 limited silk-screened edition is a chance for color lovers to own one of the most influential books on color ever published.

Lavishly produced as a two volume slipcased set, this book replicates Albers’s revolutionary exercises, explaining concepts such as color relativity and vibrating and vanishing boundaries through the use of color, shape, die-cut forms, and movable flaps.

Also included for the first time are new studies from the Albers archive, produced by the artist’s students in the early 1960s. Without a doubt, this gorgeous tome is a collector’s item for color and fine art book lovers.

Imagery via Apartment Therapy

August 9, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: High Touch

Today’s visual culture is shaped by a vast wealth of influences from a diverse range of styles, cultures, and eras. Handcrafts including crochet, papercraft, and the design of costumes and masks are being melded with the techniques of more traditional art forms such as installation, sculpture, collage, photography, and illustration.

This new visual language is currently being formed out of the skillful and unusual combination of creative styles, as well as the use of an expanded range of materials and techniques. One of the most striking aspects of today’s visual culture is its intricate, handcrafted quality.

The term “high touch” is used in design theory to describe an accessible, human visuality. High Touch the book is a compilation of current work that is broadening and enriching this definition in a contemporary way.

Presenting a rich selection of innovative, often handmade design created with the full spectrum of materials and stylistic devices in existence today, the book explores all of the many ways artists are expanding this palette of visual possibilities. We’re excited to see so many of the fantastic design and art projects we’ve documented here on Pattern Pulp in the pages of this eye-catching book.

July 31, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

100 Ideas that Changed Graphic Design

Though we encounter graphic design all-day-every-day, we rarely contemplate it’s roots. Worldwide authorities on genre, Steven Heller and Véronique Vienne recently took to the task of combing the past 100 years of design and compiling a wonderful book examining the top 100 game-changing ideas.

The entries are arranged in chronological order and range from technical (overprinting, rub-on designs, split fountain); to stylistic (swashes on caps, loud typography, and white space); to objects (dust jackets, design handbooks); and methods (paper cut-outs, pixelation). This richly informative and lavishly illustrated book is both a great source of inspiration and a provocative record of industry greats.

Cover image via The Salt Lab

July 18, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Info Graphics

While at the bookstore last week this cover screamed for attention. After a quick gander into it’s massive tome, it’s easy to see why Information Graphics (and it’s architects) are becoming more influential by the day.

Our lives are constantly bombarded massive influxes of content, and those able to parse the data are quickly making a name for themselves. This book presents a fascinating perspective on the subject, highlighting the work of the masters who have created industry breakthroughs as well as the primitive cave paintings that laid the groundwork for communication back in the day.

June 27, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Paper Works

Paper will forever be popular among artists for all of it’s transformative qualities. It’s a medium where the limitations are dependent upon the designer – a topic which is explored at length in Paper Works.

Paper Works has a little bit of everything – from carved paper books, to room-encompassing installations to avant-guarde fashion, and so on.

For those of us perched behind a computer, this book will inspire you to start crafting again.

Cover image via Kronalion.

June 7, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Strawberryluna

Allison Glancey and Craig Seder are the designing, illustrating and screen printing husband & wife team behind strawberryluna. The Pittsburgh-based self described music and film nerds are self-taught when it comes to design and screen printing, but we think that that’s exactly what gives their work such a unique, distinct flavor. They first got their feet wet by making stunning gig posters which launched their collective career.

In addition to their silkscreened posters and prints, strawberryluna also does custom illustration work, CD & vinyl packaging, logos & identity packages, traditional-print ready pieces, web-ready icons and designs, t-shirt designs, and much more.

June 4, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik