Magazines & Books #1

I've been meaning to write about this subject for quite some time, because it's one area of design i'm particularly mad about. From since I can remember i've loved books, loved reading them, making them and buying them. Whilst books and print in general appear to be on the way out, I don't think its a thing that will ever completely die out. Well it better not.

Whilst I've been on this course, i've been slowly building up my own collection of design books. There is a ridiculous amount of design books out there, some are awful, some are incredibly pretentious, alot of them are ridiculously expensive, but theres a loads of great ones too. The same applies to magazines, and as a student, it's pretty difficult to regularly buy them without blowing your student loan.

I've realised recently the importance of looking further afield for inspiration. It's very easy these days just to look to design blogs for inspiration, particularly ones that are image heavy. Whilst these are a great sources to use, and easy to fit into a daily routine, I can't help but think it can be so restraining just to look to these sites. Its difficult to find true inspiration from these blogs, but rather you just end up copying what you see, even if its subliminal. I've done it and probably will do it many times, because its lazy. Rather, looking at photography, the natural world, paintings, architecture, whether in printed form or actually going to visit places, these are sources we can use to really push our creativity in Graphic Design.

Here's a range of magazines and books that I either own or have looked at whilst at Precept, my current work placement.

Mark Magazine

Mark magazine, first and foremost, is a very cool, contemporary looking magazine. It's content focuses on architecture and its place in society, looking at work from all over the world, and gives first hand information on its current state and what lies ahead for it. It also features alot of up and coming architects.

Weird and wonderful buildings make great pictures, so visually this magazine is always stunning. The layout is very engaging, you can either flick through it or pour over it's very readable content. It'll have a strong impact either way.

I'm not much of an expert on Architecture, but i've always been interested by it, particularly from a graphic perspective. I love just looking at the lines, and shapes found within buildings, whether they're old, new or refurbished, theres alot to be inspired by visually from architecture.

Aesthetica

This is a new magazine to me that I recently read whilst at Precept. It covers Art and Culture as a whole, but the issue i've looked at focussed mainly on photography. 

Retro and Vintage style stuff is kind of in vogue these days, ( but perhaps as its now so popular, its viewed as being a bit pants again) but this magazine's content particularly struck me with the realisation of just how incredible the technology and capabilities are now within photography. 

Michael Eastman's photography of shop interiors, exteriors and buildings in places like Havana and Paris are filled with so much texture, history and vivid colour. The flat subject matter of the images also has a very graphic element to it, which really appeals to me. Kevin Cooley's takes intense, moody images of America's suburbs at night, using light and colour to create images filled with detail and intrigue. They remind me of some of Hopper's work, the american painter, who also dealed with similar themes.

Theres so many very good photographers these days, and whilst everyone has a camera on them almost 24/7 these days, its particularly inspiring to look at the true professionals work, and see just what is capable these days.

Advertising For People Who Don't Like Advertising - Kesselskramer

I bought this book almost a year ago in a shop in Manchester. It appealed to me partly because of the title, which is exactly how I felt at the time, but also because it was by Kesselskramer, who had done a little work with Anthony Burrill, a Graphic Designer I was particularly inspired by then, and still am now.

You could read the book in a day if you wanted too, its chapters are short, concise and filled with comments and thoughts from prominent people in advertising and design.

It gives a very candid, straightforward evaluation of advertising, why alot of people hate it, why it can be incredibly awful and cliched, and more importantly why it doesn't have to be this way. It really made me think again about advertising, for the better. I should probably read it again.

Type Matters - By Jim Williams

Typography is a bit of an art form. You can't just 'do it' properly, off the cuff. Because of that, its often a very pretentious, snotty subject, which can be particularly frustrating for anyone enthusiastic about it, but also a bit clueless, like myself.

Step forward Jim Williams, and his book 'Type Matters'. Its a short, concise book on Typography, what it is and how it works. Its not just a book for designers and students, but for anyone that cares enough about how their school report looks or even their shopping list. It's full of clear diagrams and illustrations, and really helps you to learn the basics, without a snotty remark in sight. I should probably read this again too.