Device: file under: art, commercial [Hardcover]

Rian Hughes (Author), Robert Klanten (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Rian Hughes, aka Device, is a gifted and often-copied illustrator, with his trademark catalogue style of classic 50s and 60s Martini ads and a trained eye for vital details he creates consistent, self-contained settings. Personally responsible for every single detail_from Panton-inspired furniture to the smallest ashtray_Device also shows Hughes as a master of font design with a hand-picked selection on the enclosed CD.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Elegantly compiled, Device showcases a fantastic array of dazzling artwork, rife with style and energy." ... "It's a true discussion piece. -- YPP 2002-11-18

About the Author

Rian Hughes lives in London/UK

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Die Gestalten Verlag (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3931126862
• ISBN-13: 978-3931126865
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,107,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jam-packed with Cool Stuff!, September 26, 2002

By 

Richard Starkings "hipflask" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Device: file under: art, commercial (Hardcover)

I first became aware of Rian Hughes in the pages of a trendy independent comics magazine called ESCAPE, in 1983. The short strip I read there, NORM, is included in this book, but it's just a tiny fraction of a fraction of the broad range of Commercial Art Rian has produced during the course of the past twenty years.

Part Retro, Part Techno, Rian's Hip Fifties-influenced style remains remarkably unique and instantly identifiable. His negative space logo for the Vertigo comic book, THE INVISIBLES is just one of a thousand brilliant designs he has graciously collected together in this beautiful hardcover collection.

The book includes a CD of font samples and desktop patterns. Buy two and give one to a friend for Christmas.I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you're not familiar with his work, you can get a taste of it over at his Device website.

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational powerhouse for the designer or illustrator, January 20, 2011

By 

Eric (PROVIDENCE, UT, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Device: file under: art, commercial (Hardcover)

This book is as good as it gets when it comes to cool, inspirational, pop design. Are you feeling a little stiff or confined when looking through the latest issue of Communication Arts magazine? Well fear not little camper, we'll get you through, and this book is the remedy for dull design or illustration books. Rian's style is a pop culture bistro, with influences of everything from 60s Jetsons animation to modern era furniture and architecture. Lot's of logo work, illustration, font design and packaging. I wouldn't pinhole his style, but it's more retro in flavor than anything else. If you have the chance, don't miss this book.

The included CD is really just a side note. I didn't find anything particularly useful on the CD, but it does look nice. It's more like an advertisement to try and get you to buy Rian's fonts online than anything of really usable content. I was disappointed to see that the fonts shown to be included on the CD aren't even all there when you open up the files (specifically the fonts that would be nice to have are missing), but instead you get three or four wingding type of fonts and a so-so retro font. Hence, I give the whole package four stars instead of five.

5.0 out of 5 stars A vector marvel!, September 1, 2004

By 

DCCJ (West Coast USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Device: file under: art, commercial (Hardcover)

This is a highly recommended resource for all you graphic artists that use Illustrator/Freehand for a living. It goes to show what a good program combined with a imaginative artist can produce.

Don't let the cutesy cover fool you. Hughes' body of work spans from child-oriented graphics to R-rated in some cases. His style is a mixture of grafitti, retro, and cartoon reminiscent of house, techno and rave graphics.

I noticed that I've seen a lot of his art in products and have enjoyed them even before I knew about this book. I purchased this book blindly and have to say that it is one of the best buys I've had in awhile.