Book jackets by alvin lustig type

While researching for my annotated bibliography, i discovered the work of alvin lustig. Giustis unique designs became widely praised covers for publications such as fortune, holiday, modern packaging, graphis and time. We proudly offer six different styles of covers, including center slit book jacket covers, multifit book jacket covers, open edge book jacket covers, polyjac book jacket covers, processor book jacket covers and profit book jacket covers. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. There is a designer and title index, someting that was sadly missing from the great american. Todays inspiration comes from american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer alvin lustig. The princess of cleves book jacket by alvin lustig by scott lindberg, via. The title, in lowercase italic white type, is stacked vertically against this chasm.

Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. In the course of this alvin lustig revival, elaine has also garnered widespread attention and acclaim as an artist. Beverly hills high school commencement, 1942 philately in europe brochure, 1939 incantation, textile design, 1947 via see it in fa. It is sure to trigger pangs of belletristic acquisitiveness and perhaps even launch you on a new book buying addictionyet even the most dedicated collector will find it difficult to match the quality of the books displayed in this design show.

Preface by new directions publisher james laughlin and statement by the designer alvin lustig followed by 19 original dust jackets. Lustig took book jackets and, later in the 1940s, paperback covers, seriously, turning them into a minor. A student of frank lloyd wright, among others, alvin lustig had a very successful career in graphic design and art direction. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of continue reading. Each of his allencompassing book covers had a life and character of its own, focusing on more than just one general image. James laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig had this to say. In recognition of his illustrious multidisciplinary careerdesigning hundreds of book jackets. Alvin lustig gets an impressive eightyeight page look at his book jackets for new directions. Not surprisingly, it turned out steve was already working on a biography formatted like a. As publisher of new directions, laughlin hired lustig in the early 1940s. Founded in 2014 and opened to the public in 2015, the san franciscobased organization holds an extensive collection of 30,000 items ranging in age over 2,000 years. His method was to read a text and get the feel of the authors creative drive, then to restate it in his own graphic terms.

Alvin lustig 19151955, elaine lustig cohen 19272016. Updating a famous type anomaly from aiga medalists alvin. He hung floortoceiling curtains made from ninon, an inexpensive white transparent nylon fabric, to smooth out the edges of the room. As a famed designer goes blind, his wife steps out from. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book cover design and book design. From the book jackets of alvin lustig by james laughlin, print magazine, octnov 1956 the first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941 edition of henry millers wisdom of the heart was quite unlike anything then in vogue, but it scarcely hinted at the extraordinary flowering which was to follow. This may, new directions will issue an alvin lustig postcard collection. In contrast the covers in jackets required are bursting with creativity, the chapter on nonfiction has some particularly striking designs. Alvin lustig graphic designer vv published in us in 2014 by studio art ff.

The alvin lustig archive includes over 400 designs from this important modern american design pioneer. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig rit press rit. Evelyn waugh a handful of dust cover by alvin lustig cesarsebastian. My collection of dust jackets designed by alvin lustig for the new directions new classics series. Revolutionizing the approach to book cover design in the 1940s, lustig would attempt to get a sense of the writers direction from reading the book and then translate it into his own graphic style the previous trend was to summarize the book with one image.

These started in 1939 when he met publisher james laughlin, they became good friends and lustig designed dozens of covers through the forties and fifties for laughlins imprints, fiftyfour, in color, are included in the book with six covers for. His playful book covers caught my attention and spoke to me of an element that is perhaps missing in my own studio work. Alvin lustig believed in the power of design when applied to all aspects of life. Alvin lustig was born in denvercalifornia1915 1955. Many of new directions classic titles now proudly wear their original lustig jackets. His method was to read a text and get the feel of the authors creative drive, then to restate it in his own graphic terms, wrote james laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig print, vol.

Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin. Alvin lustig s contributions to the design of books and book jackets, magazines, interiors, and textiles as well as his teachings would have made him a credible candidate for the aiga lifetime achievement award when he was alive. Sadly, in later editions, this was removed and replaced by a fonta rather illfitting akzidenzgrotesk bold. Creating a realistic and comfortable form of liberty and nostalgia, still appreciated as fresh and innovative today. His exhibition design explores the rational world, and his graphic design uncovers the subconscious, employing abstract forms to subtly unlock alternative levels of perceptions. A 1949 excibitionat the composing room gallery in n. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage, furniture and lighting. His sense of color and ability to seamlessly weave simple and beautiful illustrations into his. Readers of print may remember steves homage to lustig from the janfeb 2004 issue.

Lustig began to incorporate type as a concrete design element in and. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity and print. By the time he died at the age of 40 in 1955, he had already introduced principles of modern art to graphic design. In the 1960s, elaine worked as a designer for the jewish museum, producing some of her most opulent and iconic.

Type combined with geometric shapes or drawings created abstract. Elaine lustig cohen born modern showcases the work of the seminal midcentury modernist designer alvin lustig. Biography an introduction about alvin lustig and his lifetime. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer 19151955. The dust jacket sometimes book jacket, dust wrapper or dust cover of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations. The first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the. James laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig had this to say about lustig. Yet over the years, elaine and i have teamed together in promoting the legacy of alvin lustig. Jan mlodozeniec, 1956 alvin lustig, beautiful book design charley harper illustration from a biology book edward and the horse olle eksell vintag. From the book jackets of alvin lustig by james laughlin, print magazine, octnov 1956 the first jacket which lustig did for a new directions book the one for the 1941 edition of henry millers wisdom of the heart was quite unlike anything then in. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design. Pausing to locate the cover in her memory, she said, the jacket that youre talking about for tennessee williams, that was very late.

Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal, models how personal vision wedded to modern form can significantly impact the public sphere. This volume exhibits lustigs highly influential book jacket designs, architecture and industrial design. Although each new classics jacket has its own character, lustig maintained unity through strict formal consistency. Architects such as eero saarinan and philip johnson hired her to do the lettering for their buildings. At a talk in 20, elaine lustig cohen, who was widowed by the books famous designer, alvin lustig, turned to steven heller, her interviewer on stage. Such is alvin lustigs 1953 paperback cover for lorca. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. Often the back panel or flaps are printed with biographical information about the author, a summary of the book from the publisher known as a. Photo 8 of 12 in bright renovation of a tiny manhattan apartment. This outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book covers. Letterform archive is a 501c3 nonprofit library, museum, and educational institution dedicated to serving existing and potential practitioners, students, and admirers of the letter arts. Pioneering graphic designer, artist and archivist, elaine lustig cohen is recognized for her body of design work integrating european avantgarde and modernist influences into a distinctly american, midcentury manner of typographic communication. In a 1995 article for eye magazine, graphic designer, writer, and.

Alvin lustigs book covers i was killing some time in south congress books the other day and the clerk showed me some original new directions books with these alvin lustig covers and they really. Designed book jackets, commonly used thin scratchy lines and lowercase letters. When elaine lustig cohen assumed ownership of her husbands midtown manhattan design practice after he died at the age of 40, most of. He further rejected the typical cover design that summarized a book through one generalized image. It is sure to trigger pangs of belletristic acquisitiveness and perhaps even launch you on a new bookbuying addictionyet even the most dedicated collector will find it difficult to match the quality of the books displayed in this design show. Five questions with steven heller about alvin lustig. Alvin lustig with the current interest in american design history, it is fitting that alvin lustig be honored for his significant influence on american design and design education. Lustig immersed himself in all aspects of design, including architecture. Fifties designer alvin lustigs book jackets provide inspiration for painted walls and floors. Alvin lustig alvin lustig, graphic design illustration. Alvin lustigs contributions to the design of books and book jackets, magazines, interiors, and textiles as well as his teachings would have made him a credible candidate for the aiga lifetime achievement award when he was alive.

The back of the book has a portfolio of six designers including my favorites, alvin lustig and paul rand. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. On the online archive, members can explore over 1,000 catalogued, imaged items such as. Alvin lustig, 1946 all book covers for new directions, unless. Together lustig cohen and welsh, utilizing alvins existing grid, created all the necessary characters, punctuation and glyphs, and renamed the font lustig elements. Geismar had served two years of the united states army as an exhibition designer and then freelanced. Tls is the leading manufacturer in highquality book jacket covers. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. With multidisciplinary talents, giusti also created sculptures, metalwork and designed several. Ivan chermayeff serges son, assistant to alvin lustig as a record album designer, close friend from a graduate graphic design program at yale university. The 19 jackets have been trimmed with threesided bleeds and spine typography intact.

Alvin lustig 19151955 changed the look of book jackets in the mid. Exiles by james joyce cover design by alvin lustig 1945. Each new classics book jacket lustig created had its own unique character. Six months ago, i wrote to steven heller about an idea i had for a book on the subject of designer alvin lustig. Designing book jackets helped her develop a more freeform style that distinguished her from alvins more precise aesthetic. Jan mlodozeniec cover design for john steinbecks the pearl poland design. Selections from the emigre, aaron marcus, and ross f. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal. To combat this, he found it crucial for creatives to experiment with other types of design, aside. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. She began as a book designer for new directions and meridian books.

I asked if he would write the introductory essay, outlining lustigs role in modern design history. George giusti, an italianborn and educated designer, first established a professional practice in switzerland and later, in the united states. Alvin lustigs distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature of the early editions of this striking jacket design. Lawrence and james joyce, and he gave the artist the freedom to experiment and develop his personal style in a fertile ground for. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustigs book cover designs that were created primarily. Nick watson uk was the fastest person to type the entire alphabet on a qwerty keyboard in exactly seven seconds on june 9th, 2006.

Lustigs book covers, especially for new directions publishing, were groundbreaking. The current preference among american book jacket designers for fragmented images. Alvin lustig is one of our alltime favorite designers. Lustig also designed sculptural lighting fixtures with small circular bulbs that were akin to the abstract linear designs he used on some of his betterknown book jackets. Laughlin, was a progressive publisher with an intuitive understanding of the artistic graphic design, who commissioned lustig to create book jackets for such important thinkers as henry miller, gertrude stein, d.

The face has been cut as wood type by hamilton, and there is a digital version from p22. Craig welsh lancaster, pa and aiga medalist elaine lustig cohen ny, alvins widow, extended alvin lustigs 1939 geometric typeface euclid, and named it lustig elements. Until alvin lustig 19151955 began designing book jackets in the early 1940s, they were unwanted but necessary appendages ephemeral wrappers that protected bindings from dust, removed and discarded as routinely as christmas gift paper. Photo 8 of 12 in bright renovation of a tiny manhattan. How to take care of a really cool book jacket by poetry.