I Am Almost Always Hungry (Paperback)

~ Cahan & Associates (Author) "Most self-designed monographs in the "all about us" category begin with a flattering introduction by a friend..." (more)
Key Phrases: Bill Cahan, Bob Dinetz, Kevin Roberson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a handsome, full-color, over-sized book... Fascinating reading, and not just for the design-fixated. Anyone with an interest in the gestation of an idea - any idea - from fleeting thought to fully articulated expression ought to check out I AM ALMOST ALWAYS HUNGRY." -- V Magazine

Product Description

Legendary Harper's Bazaar art director Alexey Brodovitch had a favorite saying: "Why to eat bacon and eggs every day?" The designers at San Francisco-based design firm Cahan & Associates, in their hunger for fresh ideas, find inspiration in the most unexpected places, such as an oddly sculptural piece of discarded metal in the alley near their office, or a conversation with an elaborately tattooed bicycle messenger. From these eclectic ingredients the office serves up in-your-face graphics that are exceptional for their visceral impact yet still convey the strategic thinking behind each piece. The firms working methods, involving extensive exploration, collaboration, and play, are documented in this monograph through interviews with founder Bill Cahan, clients, and vendors; writings by colleagues; photo essays; proposals to clients that were accepted and rejected; and finished pieces, providing a portrait of a firm for whom process is just as important as product. Cahan & Associates, founded in 1984, works on projects ranging from packaging and annual reports to posters, websites, and corporate identity programs, with clients including Coca-Cola, Sun Microsystems, and the U.S. Postal Service. They have received more than 1200 design awards, and their work is in the permanent collections of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568981996
• ISBN-13: 978-1568981994
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #981,920 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is no diet book it leaves you wanting more!, January 15, 2000

By	Steven M Pollack "stevepollack" (Laguna Beach, California) - See all my reviews

The ability to be an award winning graphic design firm and continue to put out great work for his clients makes Cahan & Associates almost mythical. 'I Am Almost Always Hungry' allows you to feel like you are behind the scenes of some chaotic but highly sophisticated dinner party with founder Bill Cahan leading you through his entrees of work. With the designers being the project's chef and Cahan being the maitre d', this is definitely one meal that you never know how it will turn out. This book has no exact recipes but instead a view at thinking outside the box for success in today's copycat world.

Besides showing some of the best design work in the world, Cahan's team seem to have a deep feeling for simplifying complex information and maximizing the identity of their clients: this is the concept that underpins the work of Cahan & Associates.

As I finished this visual masterpiece over a cappuccino, I just had to laugh to myself on just how Cahan and company get away with this kind of work.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money!, June 18, 2001

By A Customer

I ordered this book and promptly returned it. Normally, I am a fan of Cahan's work, but this was nothing like the clean, intuitive style I have grown accustomed to seeing from his office. And, that is not to say change is not good. It just so happens, this one isn't.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and insightful, September 10, 2003

By	"[e-mail]" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

I found the book to be extremely enlightening. Really getting into the process and the approach of the firm was awesome. Not the most eye catching book but for content, it was phenomenal. Preaching concept, communication and being open-minded, the book really reinforces those strong ideas in graphic design. It's definitely not for everyone, but I strongly recommend it to designers who strive to do great work that has a purpose and communicates.