A lavish, gorgeously designed full-color collection that showcases the
designs of Dorothy and Otis Shepard, two groundbreaking giants of early
twentieth-century American advertising.
Dorothy and Otis Shepard are the unsung heroes of early
twentieth-century North American visual culture. Together, they were the
first American graphic designers to work in multiple mediums and scales
with equal skill and vision, and their work remains brilliant; yet their
names are little known today.
Dorothy and Otis chronicles their story in detail for the first time.
It explores the Shepards' penchant for abstraction and modernism, and
shows how the advent of billboard advertising inspired their
creativity--large campaigns that matched the grandeur of their
lifestyle. Throughout, it demonstrates how their influence touched all
aspects of consumer culture--from collaborating on the packaging for
Wrigley's Gum and designing uniforms and logos for the Chicago Cubs to
planning and promoting the resort island Catalina, where Stan Laurel,
Oliver Hardy, Clark Gable, and other celebrities frequented.
Dorothy and Otis illuminates their personal lives as well, from their
origins and early years to the eventual dissolution of their marriage.
As it brings to life these pioneering artists and their momentous
partnership, it elevates them to their rightful place in popular culture
and makes clear how their legendary work reflected and exemplified the
American Dream.
