The Graphic Design Reader - Annotated by Teal Triggs & Leslie Atzmon (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The Graphic Design Reader brings together key readings in this ever-changing field to provide an essential resource for students, researchers and practitioners.

Taking as its starting point an exploration of the way in which theory and practice and canons and anti-canons have operated within the discipline, the reader brings together writings by important international design critics, including Wendy Siuyi Wong, Dick Hebdige, April Greiman, and Victor Margolin.

Extracts are structured into clear thematic sections addressing history; education and the profession; type and typography; critical writing and practice; political and social change; changing visual landscapes, and graphic design futures. Each section has a contextual introduction by the editors outlining key ideas and debates, as well as an annotated guide to further reading and a comprehensive bibliography.

The Graphic Design Reader features original visual essays which provide a critical platform for understanding and interpreting graphic design practice, as well as a wealth of illustrations accompanying key historical and contemporary texts from the 1920s to the present day.

Review Quotes

"The Graphic Design Reader is a highly useful resource that will give wider exposure to a wealth of significant and
insightful writing on graphic design, much of it new or not widely anthologized" --Journal of Design History

"The Graphic Design Reader is the most inclusive collection of graphic design writing to date ... Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates; graduate students; professionals."" --CHOICE

"This scholarly and engaging collection of key readings provides an excellent body of work for those who wish to understand how the subject of graphic design is moving from a field towards a discipline." --Association of Illustrators

"A vital intervention in critical writing, design theory and design practice ... [Which is] brilliantly organised ... A detailed and intellectually comprehensive introduction gives both necessary context and contemporary insights." --Design Observer

"[Gives] serious attention to design writing ... This hefty tome should find a home on the shelves of anyone interested in design writing." --Eye Magazine

"Consolidating and expanding all key strands which satellite and enhance a field very close to my heart, this anthology allows readers to examine the interconnected scope of this remarkable field." --John Walsh, Senior Lecturer of Graphic Design at Manchester School of Art, UK

"A well-organized, wide-ranging, and bountiful collection of graphic design's history, practices, and ideals. The Graphic Design Reader deserves space on any graphic design student or practitioner's shelf." --Kristian Bjørnard, Graphic Design Faculty at Maryland Institute College of Art, USA

"The Graphic Design Reader is one of the most exciting books I've seen published in the field of graphic design. It is more than a historical overview, more than a single viewpoint. This book contains the past and the future of graphic design practice. It not only gathers together a critical collection of key writings and visual essays - it has been curated expertly to provide a launching point for new futures in graphic design thought, education and practice. I have no hesitation in recommending this new publication to anyone involved in graphic design practice and education; designer, student or teacher." --Neal Haslem, Associate Dean of Communication Design at RMIT, Australia

About the Author

Teal Triggs is Professor of Graphic Design and Associate Dean, School of Communication, Royal College of Art, UK.

Leslie Atzmon is Professor of Graphic Design and Design History at Eastern Michigan University, USA.