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The Design of Dissent: Socially and Politically Driven Graphics
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Product Description
With the world's economy being in such a slump, the Middle East's never ending conflict, and the war on terrorism, there is a heightened awareness in the world community of the many sides of the many issues that both directly and indirectly affect our lives. Increasingly, people are feeling powerless and underrepresented because they have no voice.
Designers, however, have a voice. They are among the most influential bystanders because their skills enable them to communicate a message easily through the Web or through posters and printed pieces. A picture is worth a thousand words and designers have used this adage to their advantage for years by creating simple yet powerful designs that immediately convey the message to the viewer. The Design of Dissent will focus on graphic work that designers have made as a result of social and political concerns. The time is certainly ripe as the U.S., and world, flares in opposition on so many important issues.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #406488 in Books
- Published on: 2005-09-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 240 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
With a vibrant display of buttons, posters and leaflets that protest the Iraq war, the corporate media, the Israeli military and all points between, this book cuts a wide swath, indeed. Assembled by designer Glaser, best known for his I ? NY logo, and Ilic, a School of Visual Arts instructor and author of several books on design, the book bursts with compelling political designs from all over the world, but it lacks an overall direction and shape. Neither a deeply snoozeriffic foreword by playwright Tony Kushner nor a rambling interview of Glaser by the New York Times' Steven Heller give any clear indication of the books' overall purpose. Not that there aren't images here to make the skin crawl and the blood boil, including a photo montage of victims processed at a Khmer Rouge extermination facility, and silverware superimposed on either side of a cow collapsed in meat factory filth. The most fascinating section of the book focuses on conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, bringing the region's brutal recent history to life with a shocking immediacy and quiet rage. However, despite the book's striking and colorful individual parts, it comes across as a loosely organized compendium of leftist protest paraphernalia.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"The book's images will test the visual literacy and political awareness of many readers and will challenge preconceptions and assumptions." -- Los Angeles Times, July 31, 2005
About the Author
To many, Milton Glaser is the embodiment of American graphic design. He co-founded the revolutionary Pushpin Studios, founded New York Magazine with Clay Felker, established Milton Glaser, Inc., and teamed with Walter Bernard to form the publication design firm WBMG. His artwork has been featured in exhibits worldwide, including one-man shows at both the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He lives in New York City.
Mirko Ilic, born in Bosnia, illustrated and art directed posters, record covers, and comics in Europe before moving to the U.S. in 1986. He has served as art director for the international edition of Time and the New York Times Op-Ed pages. In 1995, he established Mirko Ilic Corp., graphic design and 3-D computer graphics and motion picture title studio. Ilic has taught at Cooper Union and the School of Visual Arts. He is the coauthor of the book Genius Moves: 100 Icons of Graphic Design and is currently co-authoring Handlettering in the Digital Age, both with Steven Heller.
Customer Reviews
More than Pages
This book is packed with powerful images that are beautiful, but sometimes difficult to look at. That being said, you can't help getting lost in them. The images come from an endless number of countries and address a wide variety of issues with text that briefly explains the issue and the work itself. It's so captivating because you can quickly get the information you need and then concentrate on the work. The design is equally amazing and even includes a flip book half-way through. If you buy one book this year - buy this one because you'll learn a lot about what's going on in this world - especially things you don't hear on the news.
Design of Dissent
Milton Glaser, Mirko Iilic & Tjony Kusner have put together a visually powerful book. The posters were drawn from individuals and groups around the world and encompass artwork from the 1960's to the present. They express a broad spectrum of concerns from many viewpoints.
Mr. Glaser has stated in an interview "the general perception I have is that design can function in culture and has a social role that cannot be only about selling goods". This is certainly true of the design art found in this book. The brief accompanying text to each poster adds to the reader's appreciation and is often invaluable to understanding the meaning of some posters that use language or symbols the reader may not be familiar with.
This is not a "coffee-table" book. The impact of the images and messages are direct, dramatic, sometimes humorous, and often very intense. You don't have to be a graphic designer to appreciate this book. If you believe as Mr. Glaser does that "dissent protects democracy", this book is worth a long look.
Large size, full color, smart thinking in text, a gem of a book
I bought this book for my son last year, and ended up reading it and going through it myself as I start to think more about collective intellligence, five minds, group IQ and such. Dissent and diversity are so important to all of us, that I am moved to suggest this book--which Amazon is offering at a price way below its actual value--as the perfect Christmas present for any college student or any adult.
Start at the end of the book, with the interview of Milton Glaser by Steven Hellor, "Dissenting Conditions," and the directory of contributors.
I think this book is a classic work, and I hope the publisher will issue an updated or follow on version at least every five years.
This is a GEM of a book.
See also:
Forbidden Knowledge: From Prometheus to Pornography
Five Minds for the Future
Group Genius: The Creative Power of Collaboration
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
