An Essential Collection of Essays and Musings on Graphic Design from
One of the Field's Leading Educators
In this wide-ranging compilation, art director, writer, and lecturer
Steven Heller shares his passion for graphic design with readers, whom
he invites to consider that design can be discerned in all things
natural and manmade. Developed as content for a class devoted to
reading, this collection is not overtly about conventional design, but
about a variety of topics viewed through the lens of design. Offered as
a primer for undergraduate and graduate students, Design School Reader
presents more than forty essays on subjects such as:
- The role of design in politics
- Visual culture and the social impact of design
- Key moments in the history of typography
- Technological innovations
- The power of branding and logos
- Ethical considerations and dilemmas
- Important figures in the design world
Divided into five parts--Design Language; Design Dialects; Politics,
Ideology, Design; Business and Commerce; and Inspiration and
Discoveries--each section features a collection of essays culled from
Heller's extensive publications from the past several decades. At the
end of every essay, readers will find discussion points to prompt
further lines of inquiry. As Heller notes, "The key is to read, discuss,
and debate." Students, aficionados, and anyone with a healthy curiosity
will thoroughly enjoy this illuminating and thought-provoking assemblage
of perspectives on the practice.
