Irma Boom, book designer
Interviews by Peter BiľakIrma Boom, one of the worlds foremost book designers, discusses her working methods, preferences, and the nature of free-range design.About Nothing, really
Essays by Peter BiľakDesign is concerned with creations of form, rather than philosophical discussions about holism and acceptance of non-form. However, can the absence of matter teach us more about our true nature?E-A-T, a selection of contemporary Czech and Slovak type design
Reviews by Dan ReynoldsDan Reynolds reviews a travelling exhibit of Czech and Slovak type design from the past two decades, and compares this exhibit to the Fresh Fonts exhibit of Swiss design shown in Zurich until July 2004.Why Not Associates?2
Reviews by Peter BiľakA critical review of the London-based design group’s second collection of work, published in 2004. Peter Biľak’s review, first appearing in Items magazine, poses questions about the role of self-promotional design publishing as he describes the visually stimulating work of a contemporary design studio.The Book of Probes
Reviews by Peter BiľakA critical review of a new book featuring excerpts of Marshall McLuhans work, designed by David Carson. Tha author considers the complex task of illustrating McLuhans intricate work, and whether or not Carsons visual devices are successful.State of the Arts publishing
Reviews by Stuart BaileyTwo books are reviewed and compared: one, a Phaidon book by Steven Heller on the history of avant-garde publications from the early 20th century on, the other, a glossier Taschen book featuring the recent design work of some 100 studios. Read on as Stuart Bailey puts the two in a ring together and hands Heller a very large pair of gloves.Context in Critique (review of Emigre No.64, Rant)
Reviews by Dmitri SiegelA review of Emigre Number 64, the Rant issue, where upon its pages designers do just that. Siegel talks about the old Legibility Wars of the 1990s, how design is being produced, thought of and critiqued today and in the 1990s, and he even provides an interesting background of the Dutch design environment as a foil for the maintream of the western design world.The Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Reviews by Steven HellerA review of a new comic strip novel by an ‘underground comix master’, full of complex plot lines and psychologies, stories about and parodies of the underbelly of the cartoon business, all drwan exquisitely.Marshall Arisman: Facing the Audience
Reviews by Steven HellerA film review of director Tony Silver‘s documentary about the life and work of the Amercian illustrator Marshall Arisman.Restart: New Systems in Graphic Design
Reviews by Peter BiľakA critical review of the design book Restart, first appearing in Items first issue. Some very well-known designers’ work is featured in this modern vs. post-modern, 175 page book from two London-based authors.Bruce Mau: Life Style
Reviews by Stuart BaileyA review, first appearing in Items first issue, of Bruce Mau‘s other large book, which arrived three years after S,M,L,XL. Described is an interesting archaeology of contemporary culture and design.Edward Fella: Letters on America
Reviews by Steven HellerSteven Heller, in his affable way, reviews a book by Lewis Blackwell and Lorraine Wild which takes on Ed Fella's Polaroids of found graphics and alphabets throughout the US as well as some of his lettering. The book sounds like a lively account of American vernacular lettering and images, as well as a good platform to view Ed Fella's own work.