Designed by Peter Saville [Paperback]

Peter Saville (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

Peter Saville is arguably the most influential graphic designer of his generation. Best known for his seminal record covers for Joy Division and New Order and as the co-founder of legendary independent music label Factory Records, Saville has created designs for fashion, advertising, and art. The intensity and timelessness of his work has ensured his cult status for twenty-five years. His far-reaching designs and character prefigure popular culture: fresh and seemingly familiar, he continues to transform the commonplace into the desirable.
"Saville's method, then as now, lies in fixing on a style or look slightly ahead of popular taste. He achieves the sort of ambiguity and complexity of resonance more usually associated with art," writes Rick Poynor in his essay.
This first book on Saville's work chronicles his prolific career from 1978 to the present. It includes a comprehensive interview by Christopher Wilson as well as essays by style writer Peter York, music critics Paul Morley and Miranda Sawyer, and design critics Rick Poynor, Emily King, and Peter Hall.
Graphic designers, music lovers, and fashion followers everywhere will welcome this visually rich overview of Peter Saville's work and art.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...as much of an artistic revelation as the excellent film 24 Hour Party People, a cinematic companion piece. -- Creativity Magazine

...brims with images that music lovers of a certain age will cherish. -- Time Out New York

...captures the passion behind 25 years of work and Saville's infectious charm. -- RES Magazine

It's a mesmerizing coffee-table read, although you'll need a much hipper coffee table to keep it on. -- Blender Magazine

Whenever I'm asked who has influenced me most as a designer, I answer Peter Saville...This book answers it all. -- Chip Kidd - HOUSE & GARDEN magazine, April 2004

About the Author

Peter Saville is a graphic designer who resides in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568984227
• ISBN-13: 978-1568984223
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,351,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As close to visual perfection you can get, July 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Designed by Peter Saville (Paperback)

I only wanted to write a review because this book looked lonely without a single customer review.

You need this book if you want to understand where our design-obsessive culture originated. Even if you don't give a rat's ass, if you take any kind of enjoyment from visual and conceptual aesthetics, you still need this.

It is great to flip through, the ultimate coffee table book. But suprisingly, there is just as much emphasis placed on text and context.

Even more surprisingly, it is reasonably priced.

Peter Saville has enormous talent and is unique in that he's not strictly a designer, not strictly an artist.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book, great insights into iconic designer's work, June 28, 2008

By 

Hellorinis "Hellorinis" (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Designed by Peter Saville (Paperback)

I will repeat what other reviewers have said, yes, this is a great book, fabulous design (duh!), etc...this book has several essays on Peter's work as well as a very informative interview. This is, alone, a reason not to miss it. Saville has been the main person to translate music culture into visual, iconic form. He discusses what he describes as "Style Culture", his formative years, in great, facile, conversational form. Of course his work speaks for itself and through the music it helped communicate, but the texts actually provided insight into how does his work come about, the process & projects, the "phases", etc...Saville the bon vivant and Saville the designer are all one. Interesting to think about in the era of mega-mass corporatization of everything. He managed to remain a Flaneur of sorts, thanks to the Mancurian accident of birth, overall charm and flawless, uncompromising work.

5.0 out of 5 stars My reason for being a Graphic Designer, September 23, 2007

By 

James L. Avilez (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Designed by Peter Saville (Paperback)

I first became acquainted with Saville's work with the albums he did for Joy Division and New Order over twenty years ago, the work was fresh, dynamic, elegant and beautiful then and it's still fantastic. His work is always so effortless and cool, it just IS, it doesn't try too hard. Alot of work in my profession tries too hard to be "edgy" and after two years...it ain't. David Carson comes to mind. Saville is still to this day, one of the few living designers that really matter, who consistently puts out great work. Michael Vanderbyl being the other one. The dead ones being Otl Aicher and Josef Muller Brockmann. The only quibble I have is the format, it's too small, it should be something substantial like 15x15