Born of the traditions of fine art and printing, graphic design is a form of visual communication that seeks to inform, identify or promote through the combination of word and image. But unlike the written word or a work of art, a graphic design operates exclusively in the context in which it will be seen, and mediates between the wishes of the client and the expectations of the public. Moreover, a graphic work is created for mass reproduction. The field of graphic design, as we know it today, has its roots in two developments: the invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century and the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, both of which contributed to the process of graphic reproduction. Today, trade, commerce, communications and culture continue to feed the need for graphic design, and technological developments - most notably the computer - are constantly broadening its possibilities. Of all the arts, graphic design comes closest to our contemporary daily life, as we interact with graphic design on an almost continuous basis. Five hundred graphic designs created since the advent of mechanical reproduction, are showcased in this archive - from the Gutenberg Bible and Nuremberg Chronicles of the fifteenth century, to the cutting edge magazines, posters and ephemera of today. It is the authoritative selection of newspapers, magazines, advertisements, typefaces, logos, corporate design, record and CD covers and moving graphics from around the world, which have created a benchmark for excellence and innovation. Compiled and researched by experts, and illustrated with up to six images per entry, including rarely seen historical and contextual material, The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design is the ultimate reference guide for the design professional and enthusiast alike. Designed with exceptional production details and rich with information, this book also becomes an object that appeals to the creativity and imagination of the reader.
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Review
"Though blindness is the only bulwark against constant image influx, the Phaidon Archive, at least, allows you to see the images with brand new eyes." - Blackbook
"Even if you don't light up at seeing the work of Paul Rand or Andy Warhol, you'll want Phaidon's new Archive of Graphic Design. Thumbing through the cards is like playing Trivial Pursuit. . ." - Details
"Leading arts publisher Phaidon has collated some of the world's most prolific examples of graphic design and put them in a handy box set of more than 500 flash cards." - Acclaim Magazine
". . .good graphic design can be informative, persuasive - and sometimes even moving. The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design. . .surveys some of the highlights over the past 600 years." - The Wall Street Journal
". . .an impressive, exhaustive, rigorously researched, and beautifully produced compendium of 500 seminal designs spanning newspaper, magazines, posters, advertisements. . .examined through 3000 color and 300 black and white illustrations in their proper historical and socio-cultural context." - Brain Pickings
"Designers, design students, and design enthusiasts everywhere. . .this is cool." - Felt and Wire
"The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design is the commercial art cannon embodied: 500 topic sheets on everything from a 700-year-old Buddhist text to the album art of Beck's "The Information." - T: The New York Times Style Magazine
"A radical departure from traditional bookmaking, [The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design] pays tribute to the power of design both through its contents and, well, its design." - Steve Heller for The Atlantic
"Even if you don't light up at seeing the work of Paul Rand or Andy Warhol, you'll want Phaidon's new Archive of Graphic Design. Thumbing through the cards is like playing Trivial Pursuit. . ." - Details
"Leading arts publisher Phaidon has collated some of the world's most prolific examples of graphic design and put them in a handy box set of more than 500 flash cards." - Acclaim Magazine
". . .good graphic design can be informative, persuasive - and sometimes even moving. The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design. . .surveys some of the highlights over the past 600 years." - The Wall Street Journal
". . .an impressive, exhaustive, rigorously researched, and beautifully produced compendium of 500 seminal designs spanning newspaper, magazines, posters, advertisements. . .examined through 3000 color and 300 black and white illustrations in their proper historical and socio-cultural context." - Brain Pickings
"Designers, design students, and design enthusiasts everywhere. . .this is cool." - Felt and Wire
"The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design is the commercial art cannon embodied: 500 topic sheets on everything from a 700-year-old Buddhist text to the album art of Beck's "The Information." - T: The New York Times Style Magazine
"A radical departure from traditional bookmaking, [The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design] pays tribute to the power of design both through its contents and, well, its design." - Steve Heller for The Atlantic
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read about this collection on Maria Popova's [...] and it seemed worth the investment.
The description didn't prepare me for the delight of opening this box of wonders.
It's parked next to my desk. I randomly select one of the loose sheets, prop it where I can see it, and am inspired.
Sometimes the page elicits a nostalgic response along with an appreciation of the graphic design being highlighted (Seventeen Magazine, Rolling Stone).
Other pages are history lessons, philosophical treatises, a skip across the ocean. Each one takes only moments to read but invites further contemplation.
It ain't cheap. It is certainly not a necessity for most people.
But if you are a junkie for graphics, it's the $#!+.
The description didn't prepare me for the delight of opening this box of wonders.
It's parked next to my desk. I randomly select one of the loose sheets, prop it where I can see it, and am inspired.
Sometimes the page elicits a nostalgic response along with an appreciation of the graphic design being highlighted (Seventeen Magazine, Rolling Stone).
Other pages are history lessons, philosophical treatises, a skip across the ocean. Each one takes only moments to read but invites further contemplation.
It ain't cheap. It is certainly not a necessity for most people.
But if you are a junkie for graphics, it's the $#!+.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If the intent of the 'book-in-a-box-design' was for users to handle the cards, resort them, hang them up, and so on - then they should have been printed on durable stock that could withstand such handling.
I've already dinged the edges of some of the cards - and I've been very gentle.
I hate to give a bad review, but I agree with the other person who pointed out that for the price, it would have been nice for the cards to have been heavier or even laminated.
The information is great - but if I would have known about the flimsy cardstock, I would not have purchased this item.
The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design
I've already dinged the edges of some of the cards - and I've been very gentle.
I hate to give a bad review, but I agree with the other person who pointed out that for the price, it would have been nice for the cards to have been heavier or even laminated.
The information is great - but if I would have known about the flimsy cardstock, I would not have purchased this item.
The Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I could hardly wait for this item to arrive, and when it finally came, it exceeded all my expectations. the box is huge, the quality is amazing and the reach and depth and richness of the content is absolutely wonderful. I highly recommend it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Designer porn.
A compilation of designs all in a big, heavy case. Each design is on it's own sheet of paper. I haven't even had time to look through it yet.
Published 2 days ago by Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best of the Best of the graphic design collection
Amongst others similar products (collection of graphic design & designers), I have to say this one is the best of all. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Karna Mustaqim
5.0 out of 5 stars
A nice tool for visual design education
As usual, Phaidon provides the best editorial procedures.
This case contains a huge amount of information organized in such a way that everyone who needs or intends to be... Read more
This case contains a huge amount of information organized in such a way that everyone who needs or intends to be... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Joao de Souza Leite
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Way to Study the History of Graphic Design
It's all here, from early ads to beaux artes to the bauhaus to the latest in high-tech design. The large-size sheets have one design per sheet, with the identifying information on... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nick Morgan
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must for anyone in the field.
A must for anyone in the field. The case is a little heavy due to the incredible amount of information contained in it.
Published 4 months ago by Francois Boucher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and Unique
This was given as a gift and it is a beautiful and unique presentation of a very interesting perspective of the history of graphic design.
Published 5 months ago by Tom Foerstel
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great idea but...
Wish the stock was heavier.
For the price, it would be fantastic to have laminated cards.
The filing system is fair.
Wanted to give this a 5.
For the price, it would be fantastic to have laminated cards.
The filing system is fair.
Wanted to give this a 5.
Published 6 months ago by G. Fujimoto
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