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Designers are conceptual pack rats. They pack as much raw material in their brains as possible and then use that to build their own unique designs. The Anatomy of Design is what, in the butcher business, they call a "side of beef." The authors selected fifty examples of graphic design that will be dissected, piece by piece, tissue by tissue, revealing an array of influences and inspirations. These are not necessarily the most well-known or celebrated objects of graphic design, though many contain the genetic codes of some canonical works. Instead, these represent contemporary artifacts that are well conceived, finely crafted, and filled with hidden treasures. Some are overtly complex and their influences are somewhat easy to see with the naked eye. Others are so simple that it is hard to believe there is a storehouse of inspiration hidden underneath.
The selections include all kinds of design work including posters, book and record covers, packages, catalog covers, and more. Each exhibit is selected based on its ubiquity, thematic import, and aesthetic significance, and every page is a means to show how great work is derived from various inspirational and physical sources, some well-known, some unknown. Each design is presented on a gate-fold showing the featured design and and other works that share the key influences with extended captions explaining the whys and wherefores.
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By Ina Saltz (New York City)
Ninety nine point nine percent of the time you see an interesting or provocative design, there is little or no context. This is the first, and perhaps only, book that undertakes to analyze in depth the multiple underlying influences (and direct steals) from pre-existing sources and elements. It is a mammoth undertaking, in a unique, all-gatefold format.
It is a real treasure, and it does a great service for the graphic design community.
By Vada V.
I bought this for a class and I think I'll actually keep it when the class is over. Love the way its laid and all the colors. Very useful!
By Joshua Curtis (Moorpark, CA)
This book is very thorough about the spectrum of design. As a senior graphic design student, it is the greatest resource I've ever had. I can't put it down. I love it!
By Architect of Skin (Philippines)
Sometimes graphic designers find themselves stuck in their same old style, this book can make them break their paradigms a bit.
Unlike Steven Heller's other book, Graphic Design Time Line (to which I gave a 1-star grade), Anatomy of Design is more the kind of book that suits my practice.
Take a relatively current design piece dissected into its graphical components, then observe those components as they've been applied to other design projects, some as early as the 1920s. It's a treasure-trove of inspiration, even much better than those design yearbooks and showcases. While the latter displays works in an inert fashion, Anatomy of Design allows the reader to see how different elements come into play, and thus allowing designers to try different approaches and treatments to whatever current project they're handling.
Plus, each entry gets a few paragraphs of commentary. Very valuable, indeed!
It's a great companion for graphic design students and professionals.
By Lorenzo Morales (Houston, TX)
This is a great book, especially for referencing. Beautifully designed! As for the title I truely believe "The Evolution of Design" would've been more appropriate, especially while referencing to the earliest documents containing that particular object, artifact or style and its transcendence to what the subjects' conceived graphic design has "evolved" to.
True as stated in the preface, "These are not necessarily the best-known or celebrated objects of graphic design, though many contain the genetic codes or canonical works. Instead, they represent some visible and a few obscure relatively contemporary artifacts that are well conceived...", there could've been other, more successful pieces on the table for dissection, yet the specimens selected are exceptional!
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