An intimate and portable volume of the writings of Phil Patton
In September 2015 the world lost Phil Patton--prolific design writer,
teacher and tantalizing wordsmith. Patton's insatiable curiosity, sense
of humor and keen eye made for the most compelling reads. Whether he was
chronicling design minutia, quirky anecdotes or bizarre tales, Phil's
hundreds of books, columns, articles and posts always delivered a new
account. As his editor at i-D magazine, Chee Pearlman, said, "His
insight takes the reader beyond the object to an understanding of its
broadest sociological context." No topic eluded him, and for a large
part of his 40-year career he championed automobiles, technology and
product design. Roger Black, designer, writer and longtime colleague and
friend of Patton's wrote, "He taught The New York Times--by example--to
cover design. The domino effect, the rest of the media followed."
With an introduction by Edward Tufte and foreword by Caroline Baumann,
this volume compiles 40 selections representing the wide range of
interests and fascinations that occupied his thoughts. Punctuated by
images of ideas and lists from notebooks he carried everywhere, Top
This and Other Parables of Design is an intimate and portable companion
for those who choose to always have a witty, informed friend around.
