Radical Graphics/Graphic Radicals [Hardcover]

Laurel Harper (Author), Katherine McCoy (Preface), Marvin Scott (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Indispensable for anyone in the design business, this one-of-a-kind survey chronicles 40 international graphic designers who have defined the cutting edge in recent years. Featuring hundreds of illustrations, its a veritable whos who of the individuals and firms that are reinventing the look of today. Charting the evolution of radicalism in design, from the early influences of the Dadaists to the fractured advertisements and multilayered 3-D work that presage the future, this is a unique profile of the landmark designers who break the rules, fracture the grid, and set new standards for the graphic arts. Its packaged in a pleasing square format with an unusual jacketa chic, super-sturdy vellum vestto echo the maverick spirit of the interior, designed by Katherine McCoy. Radical Graphics/Graphic Radicals, visually exciting and thoroughly researched, is a natural addition to any designers library. Radical graphics: where art, design, marketing, and cultural revolution meet.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Laurel Harper is former managing editor of HOW magazine. A contributor to Communication Arts, Graphis , and other design publications, she lives in Bedford, Kentucky.

Katherine McCoy eaches at the Illinois Institute of Technology s Institute of Design in Chicago and is a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art in London.

Marvin Scott Jarrett s the founder of Ray Gun Publishing, the group responsible for such cutting-edge magazines as Ray Gun, Bikini, Sweater , and Stick . He lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081181680X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811816809
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #572,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good comprehensive study of new design, January 13, 2000

By 

Matthew D. Mercer (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Radical Graphics/Graphic Radicals (Hardcover)

Whether you're concerned with traditional formal issues or more interested in making whacked out typographic designs, this book covers all the bases and touches upon nearly every relevant designer in the past 20 years or so. It's smartly split into three sections, the first focusing on the real movers and shakers in forward-thinking design (Rudy Vanderlans, Paula Scher, etc.), the second on those who are now enjoying success with the progress they've made (Designers Republic, Carlos Segura, etc.) and the "progeny" as they refer to them, the next wave of creative and innovative designers. Not only does the book have a healthy amount of full color illustrations to provide ample evidence of the designers' talents, but there is enough copy to be able to really consider this reading material (think of it as almost extensive captioning). It's nice to see a book that heralds both the well known names of the industry as well as up and coming talent, and that David Carson isn't necessarily the end all of high design in contemporary culture.

1.0 out of 5 stars This author used my name and image, distorted it, and never asked for permission., August 21, 2011

By 

pfeld - See all my reviews

This review is from: Radical Graphics/Graphic Radicals (Hardcover)

This author is a thief. She used one of my images from a poster that includes my name, without permission, and then distorted the image. Shame on her.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ten Years Ago this was Radical, November 30, 2000

By 

Michael Pinto "Anime Fan" (NYC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Radical Graphics/Graphic Radicals (Hardcover)

The problem with this book is that it's a mile wide and one inch deep. Each artist only gets a page or two, and the images are small - so you only get a brief taste. After a while all of the "radical" graphics look alike - and not much floats to the surface. You won't find yourself going back to this book for ispiration after you have opened it a few times.

There are some good designers represented here, but they get lost in coverage that reminds me of a bad yearbook. Most of the work looks pretty, but very little of it is realy smart. Some of the work shown was really cutting edge stuff back in 1985, but today it looks a little dated. If this book reprented itself as a study of alternative design from '85 to '95 that might be one thing - but it doesn't have enough perspective or go deep enough.