Customer Reviews

Cipe Pineles: A Life of Design (Norton Book for Architects and Designers)

5 star:		(2)
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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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Cipe Pineles was someone I had heard much about but knew very little of her work or history. I've come away from reading this book feeling that Cipe must have been charming and idiosyncratic, but I still don't feel I know much about her or her design philosophy. She comes across as almost disdainful of the work she is best known for, designing and art directing women's fashion magazines. It's also written a bit dryly with some confusing back-and-forth of events. Don't forget your magnifying glass; the examples of her design work are presented not much larger than thumbnails! In all, not worth the steep price and not, I fear, the definitive insight and appreciation of Cipe Pineles.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book as a biography about a talented woman who shaped magazine design in the early days. As a designer and design educator, I especially appreciated having her professional and personal life put into the context of the time in which she and her husbands worked. Also a valuable reference.

As a student of graphic design, I could have not been more fortunate that this book came out when it did, it was my only research source for a design project I did last year. After reading it, I felt as though I knew Cipe personally. Scotford's account is rich with sensitivity and detail, and is well-organized and well-written.

If Paul Rand was the grandfather of American graphic design, then Cipe Pineles is the grandmother! That alone is a great reason to make sure you have a copy of this book in your reference library if you are an art director or just love great editorial design. The writing in the book is great and goes into detail, but the real flaw is that you only get to see tiny thumbnails of her design work. While this gives you a good taste of her style, it leaves you hungry wanting to see more. But until more books are done on Cipe (pronounced See-Pea), this book is a must have.