From Lascaux to Brooklyn

Rating:
Summary: Where do we go from here?
Review: I love the simplicity of the book which is a consistent reflection of Paul Rands style. However, I can't help but question his analyzation of so-called primitive art and design. For example he compared early african art to that of childrens art (in a positive way). And while he attempted to praise the art, I think he only succeded in confusing it. African art as well as other artistic expressions by early cultures cannot be analyzed by the same Western eye that we use to scrutinize our own creations. While we would like to think that we understand other cultures the fact is we can't Unless, we are personally involved with that culture. I don't think Rand understood this. He seemed pre-occupied with the mathematical beauty in all the example work, but I think for Early cultures it went way beyond mathematics. Furthermore, while I love his passion for design, I can't help but wonder if he speaks about Design as Art or design as a COMMERCIAL tool. Certaintly, Clients are more concerned with the Marketing component of design as opposed to how beautiful it looks. This is not to say I am against good design. But as more designers confuse Graphic Design with Personal Art, I find that most work is being designed with other designers in mind (and awards) as opposed to the client and his/her customers. Rosser Reeves had the same argument about Copywriters wanting to write elegant prose instead of Sales material. Rand is a great. This book is definitly a must read. But I wonder how many people go along with his philosophies simply hecause of who he is.

Rating:
Summary: Simply a must have. For every designers library!
Review: I thought that this book sheds a different kind of light on the how and why, of design. Written by a true master that understands every aspect of what he did, and why. He delivers the message as astutely as he designed. Read it, you will not regret it!