By the time he died at the age of 40 in 1955, he had already introduced principles of modern art to graphic design. Sadly, in later editions, this was removed and replaced by a fonta rather illfitting akzidenzgrotesk bold. Laughlins imprints, fiftyfour, in color, are included in the book with six covers. 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. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer the book jackets of. Giustis unique designs became widely praised covers for publications such as fortune, holiday, modern packaging, graphis and time. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig by ned drew 20100901 ned drew.
This freeform design would have to be done with care, with a series of stencils, we imagine, shapes carefully cut out of big sheets of thin but firm plastic. Twentyfifth commencement, beverly hills high school, graphic and designart by alvin lustig b. His graphic design is heavily influenced by modern art. Cover by alvin lustig alvin lustig was an innovative pioneer in developing american graphic design during the and lustigs early work in the late reflects his training with frank lloyd wright. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and well researched representation of. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions booksfrom the collection of letterform archive. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design. It is obvious that the series of jacket designs which alvin lustig has made for my new classics books is a constant pleasure to the eye. 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. His method was to read a manuscript to get the feel of the authors creative drive, then restate it in his own graphic terms. He hung floortoceiling curtains made from ninon, an inexpensive white transparent nylon fabric, to smooth out the edges of the room. Aldous huxleys words and their meanings book cover design by alvin lustig a paul rand.
I first met the artist and designer elaine lustig cohen through the website dedicated to her former husband, the legendary designer alvin lustig. He further rejected the typical cover design that summarized a book through one generalized image. Not surprisingly, it turned out steve was already working on a biography formatted like a. With his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. There is nothing in the book world today which compares with them for color, for variety, for life, for appeal to the intelligence.
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. Lustig seldom relied on literal solutions for his cover designs. Alvin lustig gets an impressive eightyeight page look at his book jackets for new directions. George giusti, an italianborn and educated designer, first established a professional practice in switzerland and later, in the united states. He began to study design in california after high school and has contributed much to the design of books, book jackets, magazines, and textiles. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Anyway, there was a post or a link or some other worm hole a few months ago that led to a flickr page of book covers designed by alvin lustig for new directions in the late 1940s. 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. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of.
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. Alvin lustig, 1946 all book covers for new directions, unless otherwise noted. Oct 05, 2010 six months ago, i wrote to steven heller about an idea i had for a book on the subject of designer alvin lustig. Nov 23, 2017 the golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. See more objects with the color bisque darkseagreen silver darkslategrey or see all. Each print is 2color with an image size of 11w x 15 34h printed on 16w x 20h paper individually stamped and numbered by hand in an edition of 100. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0 graphic design archi here is a colorful and wellresearched representation of alvin lustig s book cover designs that were created primarily for new directions books and noonday press, among others.
See more objects with the color bisque darkseagreen silver darkslategrey or see all the colors for this object. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage. Alvin lustig s restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. Lustig was a modernist designer who partook in nearly all disciplines of design we, of course, focus on the book jackets. Art by alvin lustig for anatomy for interior designers. Now available, 4 of our favorite new directions, new classics series book jackets, beautifully designed by alvin lustig as limited edition, fine art screen prints. This volume exhibits lustig s highly influential book jacket designs, architecture and industrial design. Book jackets by alvin lustig for new directions books. See more ideas about alvin lustig, cover design and book cover design.
In denver, colorado on the year of 1915, alvin lustig was born. Feb 22, 2018 alvin lustigs distinctive handrendered lettering was a key pictorial feature of the early editions of this striking jacket design. Fifties designer alvin lustig s book jackets provide inspiration for painted walls and floors. Sep 14, 2012 in steven heller and elaine lustig cohens book, born modern.
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. Sep 22, 2015 each of his allencompassing book covers had a life and character of its own, focusing on more than just one general image. Lustig used the book cover as a vehicle of his bold graphic experimentation that was enhanced by a lifelong. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for exiles by james joyce, new. Alvin lustig, revolutionary book jacket designer and recipient of a 1993 aiga medal, models. The opportunity to design this series of book jackets was an unusual one. In april 2012, elaine lustig cohen was awarded the 2011 aiga medal, the most distinguished honor offered by the aiga, the american professional organization for design. Chermayeff worked as an assistant to alvin lustig, a noted designer of book jackets, and as a designer of album covers for columbia records before starting his firm.
Alvin lustig revolutionizing the approach to book cover design in the lustig would attempt to get a sense of the writers direction from reading the book and then translate it into his own graphic style. Alvin lustig graphic designer vv published in us in 2014. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design. The life and design of alvin lustig, the authors describe his coverdesign process.
Purity of aim the book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Rarely is the graphic designer given the chance to act upon what he considers his highest level upon a problem of serious intentions. Oct 03, 2017 alvin lustig is a known graphic and typeface designer. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and wellresearched representation of lustig s book cover designs that were created primarily for new directions books and noonday press, among others. Alvin lustigs contributions to the design of books and book jackets. By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of continue reading. For his valuable contribution to graphic design two of the most prestigious american art clubs honored him with the accolades. Readers of print may remember steves homage to lustig from the janfeb 2004 issue. Biography an introduction about alvin lustig and his lifetime. Alvin lustig graphic designer vv published in us in 2014 by studio art ff. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book cover, book jacket. Exiles by james joyce cover design by alvin lustig 1945. 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.
Alvin lustig died in new york on december 5, 1955, survived by his widow elaine firstenberg lustig, whom he had married in 1948. Jun 03, 2018 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. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain fournier, new. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for the wanderer by alain. Back in 2006, i had been asked to get in touch with the estate regarding his jacket designs for new directions. May 20, 20 with his first book for new directions, alvin lustig began a partnership that would revolutionize the art of book cover design. There is nothing in the book world today which compares with them for color, for. 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. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a book s contents, with. This is a later release variation of lustigs design, which originally was in color. I asked if he would write the introductory essay, outlining lustigs role in modern design history.
Alvin lustig is one of our alltime favorite designers. The current preference among american book jacket designers for fragmented images, photoillustration, minimal typography and rebuslike compositions can be traced directly to lustigs stark blackandwhite cover for lorca, a grid of five symbolic photographs linked in poetic disharmony. The celebratory event and ceremony, which took place in new york city, highlighted her exemplary design work and career, citing her as a pioneering graphic designer, artist and archivist. The golden age of the illustrated book dust jacket. The august, september, and october advertisementsthough similar in style to lustigs workwere not made by him, the november advertisement was attributed to rj wolff, and the december issue repeated a previous lustig design. Between 1941 and 1952, lustig produced one masterpiece after another stylized, fragmented, some combining multiple photographs, others drawn by hand in glorious abstraction. The alvin lustig archive includes over 400 designs from this important modern american design pioneer. Alvin lustig was a renowned twentieth century graphic designer. A oneman exhibition of lustig s work was mounted by new yorks ad gallery in 1949 and traveled to walker art center in minneapolis.
See more objects with the color gainsboro sienna darkgrey burlywood. Five questions with steven heller about alvin lustig print. An alvin lustig and super weird one at that boy is that satyr lo. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about this site. Elaine lustig cohen born modern showcases the work of the seminal midcentury modernist designer alvin lustig. Jan 06, 2009 a few days ago, i remembered that i liked design observera collective blog that occasionally includes posts from the great steven heller.
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