Ever since the creation of the first Penguin paperbacks in 1935, their jackets have become a constantly evolving part of Anglo-American culture and design history. By looking back at seventy years of Penguin paperbacks, graphic designer Phil Baines charts the development of British publishing, the ever-changing currents of cover art and style, and the role of artists and designers in creating and designing the Penguin look—including Penguins, Pelicans, Penguin Classics, and more. Rich with stunning illustrations and filled with details about individual titles, designers, and even the changing size and shape of the Penguin logo itself, Penguin by Design shows how covers become design classics.
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About the Author
Phil Baines, a senior lecturer at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, is a well-known graphic designer. His books include Type & Typography.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By J. DAVIDSON
Format:Paperback
I picked this up because of the book's physical beauty, but I've just read it in one sitting, couldn't put it down--a fascinating window into 20th-century British cultural history as well as book design.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Robin Benson
Format:Paperback
What a loving tribute to Allen Lane, the visionary who founded Penguin Books in 1935. Few publishers have consistently put their best `face' forward year after year over thousands of titles and I find it surprising that this Penguin cover history hasn't been written before 2005.
Admittedly most of their covers until the Fifties, though distinctive in the three-tier horizontal design, were not that creative but things slowly changed no doubt because of market pressure from other paperback publishers. I thought Penguin covers really took of in 1962 with the use of Romek Marber's simple cover grid. Pages 104-5 in the book show eighteen brilliant covers using simple graphics with black, green and red inks. The grid cover style ran into the seventies with the non-fiction Pelicans and nicely still using everybody's favorite type: Helvetica.
Author Phil Baines has done a lot of research for the book though it is basically visual with excellent short text pieces for the various title genres. A nice touch is spread of forty-eight Penguin logos from 1935 to 2005 at the back of the book and it is this kind of editorial thoughtfulness that makes the book so interesting.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
Admittedly most of their covers until the Fifties, though distinctive in the three-tier horizontal design, were not that creative but things slowly changed no doubt because of market pressure from other paperback publishers. I thought Penguin covers really took of in 1962 with the use of Romek Marber's simple cover grid. Pages 104-5 in the book show eighteen brilliant covers using simple graphics with black, green and red inks. The grid cover style ran into the seventies with the non-fiction Pelicans and nicely still using everybody's favorite type: Helvetica.
Author Phil Baines has done a lot of research for the book though it is basically visual with excellent short text pieces for the various title genres. A nice touch is spread of forty-eight Penguin logos from 1935 to 2005 at the back of the book and it is this kind of editorial thoughtfulness that makes the book so interesting.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed reading this book, which provides a heavily-illustrated history of Penguin book covers from 1935 to 2005. There are a lot of wonderful covers here. The original penguin logo was adorable. At the back of the book, there's a listing of the logos from over the years, and the first penguin is definitely my favorite.
It's great to look through and see covers from some books I have. There's a nice tactile quality to the design of this book that dovetails nicely with the subject at hand.
My only complaint is that the side notes in the useful chapters on the history of Penguin are in orange and are hard to read. I get why they chose orange, but that doesn't help my eyes to read it. But that's a minor point.
A neat, fun read on Penguin's own history and British design more broadly.
It's great to look through and see covers from some books I have. There's a nice tactile quality to the design of this book that dovetails nicely with the subject at hand.
My only complaint is that the side notes in the useful chapters on the history of Penguin are in orange and are hard to read. I get why they chose orange, but that doesn't help my eyes to read it. But that's a minor point.
A neat, fun read on Penguin's own history and British design more broadly.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
I am a graphic designer, but I recommend this book to anyone who is curious when looks at books at the library and ask him/her self - who made this cover is great or is horrible or... Read more
Published on June 4, 2009 by C. J. Suarez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great gift for book/art lovers
As a book lover as well as an art lover, I wanted this beautiful book as soon as I saw it. So I bought it and then realized it was a perfect birthday gift for a friend who is a... Read more
Published on March 24, 2009 by C. Robinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Design history
A light but enlightening journey through the evolution of cover designs, as impacted by world events, technology and taste. Particularly interesting for those in the industry.
Published on August 1, 2008 by Gregg Schroeder
5.0 out of 5 stars
Penguin love
Among the first books I ever stole (being poor) were Penguins, because they were the most interesting, the best designed, and -- oh I don't know -- the most "bookish"? Read more
Published on June 24, 2008 by Thomas Ahern
5.0 out of 5 stars
A FANTASTIC PURCHASE
Hi from Barcelona.
First of all, sorry for my really bad english.
I really recomend the purchase in Amazon. Read more
First of all, sorry for my really bad english.
I really recomend the purchase in Amazon. Read more
Published on March 11, 2007 by Marc Salinas Claret
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