Art

By Invitation Only

In the increasingly competitive world of advertising and marketing, successfully launching a new product or service is a huge challenge. And, even the world's leading agencies and designers find it increasingly difficult to come up with an idea that is completely new, completely original. By Invitation Only is a collection of some of the world's most innovative launch concepts created in recent years and demonstrates the lengths to which corporations will go to get the attention of the consumers targeted. Brand names featured include TAGHeuer, Red Bull Music Academy, Nike, and Mont Blanc. Concepts range from elaborate printed invitations to exclusive champagne infused watch launches to a block of wood inviting decking customers to "come and see why we're designers not builders." Agencies featured include Why Not Associates, Sagmeister Inc, Studio Round, Fernando Rocha, Magpie Studio, and more.

Colour Mania

Green with envy. Feeling blue. White lies. Grey areas. In every language spoken on earth human beings use colors to express themselves. World renowned author, Vladimir Nabokov*, claimed he could hear color and actually assigned a color to each letter of the alphabet based on each letter's particular sound. The Eskimos of the polar regions have countless words that uniquely describe the color white. In the world of graphics some designers have devoted their entire body of work to one color, sometimes showing it off in all of its full-bodied glory, sometimes stripping it back to its barest essentials. Colour Mania brings together an eclectic group of talented designers who have one thing in common: they are artists who simply can't get enough of one particular color be that red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black or white. This book offers a depth of understanding of individual colors that is unprecedented.

Illustration: Play 2: An Expedition to the Extraordinary

Totally unique collection of works that focuses on a return to experimental and individual techniques, such as paper cutting, stitching, knitting, needlework, origami, patchwork, and more. From pure and simple to hugely complex these artworks offer enormo

I Love Type 02 - Avant Garde

Every designer has a favorite typeface. More than a vehicle to transport words onto a page, a typeface can express taste, style, opinion, and attitude. Using a selection of high-quality graphic design work for books, promotional materials, signage and more, each book in the "I Love Type" series highlights a single typeface and its prevalence in the design community. First designed by Herb Lubalin as a logo, not a typeface, Avant Garde has had a tumultuous history. Once a representation of innovation and singularity, its popularity in the 1970s has given it a distinctly retro connotation in modern times. Its complex ligatures, particularly the distinctive dramatically-slanted "A," are a challenge for any designer to master, and the ongoing debate continues over whether anyone has been able to use it correctly since Lubalin himself. Judge for yourself in this collection showcasing the application of Avant Garde type within the graphic arts.

I Love Type 01 - Futura

Every designer has a favorite typeface. More than a vehicle to transport words onto a page, a typeface can express taste, style, opinion, and attitude. Using a selection of high-quality graphic design work for books, promotional materials, signage and more, each book in the "I Love Type" series highlights a single typeface and its prevalence in the design community. This narrow focus lends itself to an in-depth study of each typeface--how the same font can be altered to create different moods and generate an entirely original effect. One of the most used sans serif typefaces, Futura is synonymous with efficiency and modernity, with its clean, even strokes, geometric shapes and lack of decorative flourishes. Created in the 1920s, it shows the influence of German Bauhaus, and has inspired an army of geometric typefaces in the years since its inception. Futura's iconic status and simplicity have inspired the designers in this text to push for innovation.

The New Age of Feminine Drawing [With Booklet]

The New Age of Feminine Drawing demonstrates clearly how and why illustration in fashion has made an amazing comeback. Having virtually reached saturation point, photography is no longer the all-powerful medium of creativity, and has once again given way to the age old art of drawing. The drawings featured in this exciting new title represent many different styles and a broad cross section of artists. All works featured have one thing in common: they possess a uniquely feminine power of seduction. Categories covered include magazine covers, posters, cosmetic advertisements, lifestyle advertisements and entertainment products. Artists featured include Akari Inogouchi, Annika Wester, Carine Brancowitz, Cecilia Carlstedt, Cedric Rivrain, Christina K. Coco, Elisa Johns, Laura Laine, Lotie, Maren Esdar, Jarno Kettunen and more.

Wu Hung on Contemporary Chinese Artists

The companion volume to "Making History: Wu Hung on Contemporary Art," this selection of essays on Chinese contemporary artists and their work brings to bear the critical acumen of one of China's leading commentators on modern and contemporary art. Wu Hung provides a much-needed context for a critical understanding and evaluation of the artists who took part in the groundbreaking exhibition "Between Past and Future," which he curated (along with Christopher Philips) at the International Center of Photography in New York. Not confining his enquiries to commercially successful artists, Wu Hung also looks at artists whose work is intrinsically antithetical to commercialism, and who have consequently been overlooked by many of the publications now in print.

Barbara Pollack

The Wild, Wild East: An American Art Critic's Adventures in China

A lively and opinionated romp through China's contemporary art scene, "Wild, Wild East" is based on firsthand encounters with the artists, dealers, collectors, curators and auction specialists who have made Chinese contemporary art the fastest growing sector of the international art market. This is the first book to take stock of China's commercial art boom, the rapid development of its institutions and the biographies of its major players. It conveys the thrill of the current gold-rush atmosphere, but also investigates the pitfalls of the scene: corruption, government censorship and conflicts of interest. The author, Barbara Pollack, is an experienced journalist and art critic who has been reporting on China's developing art scene since 1997. With unparalleled access to the major figures both in the country and elsewhere, she is unafraid to ask, "Is this the emperor's new clothes?" of this country once ruled by emperors, and now managed by post-Mao millionaires.

Dark Inspiration: Grotesque Illustrations, Art & Design

The depiction of rage, suffering, gloom, depravity, and the supernatural in illustration and design is often seen as unsettling and offensive, but often these disturbing images elaborate the wildest dreams and subconscious desires of humans in richer form than any text analysis. Not necessarily conflicting with the belief in a heavenly world, Dark Inspiration invites viewers to redefine the horizons for beauty and morality and savor the exquisite genre with a dramatic and bold compilation of artwork that touches the taboo areas of sex, death, destruction, perversion, and crime. This title features everything from macabre 3-D wall reliefs to hand-drawn illustration. Contributors include Audrey Kawasaki, Aya Kato, Vania, Bruno 9li, Elizabeth McGrath, John Solis, and Richard Colman.

Nice to Meet You: Visual Greeting from Business Cards

Undertaking the design of a business card, never easy although often regarded as simple, presents quite a challenge for the designer charged with infusing said card with the identity, reputation and character of the person & company being represented. The well-designed, eye-catching business card can be the difference between the rolodex and the dust bin in an opportunity to further a blossoming network connection or close a deal. It is the proverbial residue of a meeting that retrieves and augments in the recipient's mind an initial or lasting impression. Nice to Meet You accumulates a great number of design solutions to the business card, showcasing hundreds of cards that stand out for their original use of materials, creative design approaches and specialty printing techniques while successfully addressing the pragmatic needs of the user. This book is an excellent source of inspiration for everyone looking to get off on the right foot and make a favorable lasting impression.

Printwork: Capture the Best Publication and Promotion

Illustration Play: Craving for the Extraordinary

Extraordinary Illustration explores new trends in handcrafted illustration, each of which lends a welcome departure from digitally generated graphics. In a bold departure from the pixel based aesthetic, Extraordinary Illustration focuses rather on the return to experimental and unique techniques such as paper cutting, stitching, knitting, needlework, origami, patchwork and more. Thirty artists from around the globe present their distinct yet diverse perspectives on their signature styles, and the myriad skills they bring to each project, and share their resounding successes. Through interviews and photos of the studios where they find their inspiration, the artists and designers takes you on a voyeuristic journey through their personal realms and share their work from vision and imagination to creation.

Type Addicted: The New Trend of A to Z Typo-Graphics

Lettering is a key visual element of great design. The right type can transform any project from mundane to extraordinary, and how to choose and treat font and lettering is a common challenge among designers and artists from every discipline. Type Addicted not only presents a rich selection of experimental and inspirational typefaces and their applications, it also reveals the diversity of innovative approaches used by contemporary designers to set tone, add impact, reinforce brand identity, and lend character to print and design work in various disciplines. Solutions to any type of dilemma are sure to be discovered among the pages. Examples include work by up and coming names as well as renowned icons from around the world.

Simply Packaging

Creating high impact packaging is a critical element in the merchandising of any product. Not only must packaging grab the attention of consumers, it must help to establish brand identity and make a lasting impression. A successful package design can transform an ordinary product into an exciting one. Not only must shape, graphics and color choices convey the right feeling, they must also be compatible with retail spaces where they will be displayed. Simply Packaging provides examples of the hottest packaging design from around the world employing the most sophisticated technology to traditional handcraftsmanship for cosmetics, food and beverages, CD and album covers, POP displays and more. With full color spreads and explanation of materials. Simply Packaging is the latest title in Victionarys SimplySeries including Simply Material and Simply Pattern.

Musikraphics: Visualizing the Rhythm of Music

Songwriters and musicians convey complex emotions through their music, and graphic designers and artists are then faced with the challenge to create complimentary graphics to go with them. Arguably as important as book covers in communicating the vibe of the content, record and CD covers, tour posters, stickers and fan club accessories can transcend mere packaging and become timeless cultural ephemera. Focusing on contemporary designs from todays most exciting underground and indie music, pop, country, jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, alternative rock and electronica, Musikraphics provides and amazing selection of designs ranging from pure graphics to artists photography, sticker, collage and silk screened art and innovative packaging for vinyl records and mp3s. Sure to inspire graphic artists designing music related packaging and music insiders alike.

Simply Pattern

A great pattern design can successfully transform any surface. Simply Pattern contains hand drawn, pixel based, playful, elegant and ethnic designs from artists including Deanne Cheuk Design, Catalina Estrada, Julia Rothman, Yuko Kondo, SKWAK, TAKORA Kimiyoshi Futori, PotiPoti, and others. Each shares their creative patterns for packaging, textiles, wallpaper, stationary, clothing, furniture, boutiques, even dining utensils, showing how repeating graphic elements can be arranged randomly or thoughtfully in order to bring modern, classic or dynamic effect to any project. Raw patterns are placed side by side with examples of how they are used to breathe life into any work. The third book in Victionarys SimplySeries including Simply Material and Simply Packaging, Simply Pattern will provide valuable inspiration for those interested in graphics fashion, and anyone seeking ways to breathe life into their designs.

Design Taste: Graphics + Interiors for Cafes, Bars and Restaurants

Food may be the single most important ingredient in the dining out experience, but graphics and design have become increasingly influential in attracting clientele to today's most successful cafes and restaurants. In a frenetically paced, time poor world 'dining out' has become a frequent activity and accordingly, patrons of restaurants, hotels, coffee lounges, clubs and bars have become more discerning. Competition between these establishments is fierce. To succeed, each requires its own particular brand of ambience and an image with which its guests can readily identify, from the soft and subtle to the bold and daring. Design Taste is a brilliant collection of identity designs covering everything from external signs and entrances to logos, menu cards, tableware, uniforms and interior design. Particular attention is given to the way in which light, pattern, form and function can be used to transcend the ordinary and create a unique experience for the patron.

Super Identity

The Age of Feminine Drawing

Idn 15th Anniversary Edition: What Do You Love