I just received my copy of Bastardised by Bunch and what a gem it is. If you haven’t picked up a copy yet then what the hell are you waiting for? Some really great stuff in here. If you do have it and happen to turn to page 76 you’ll see my submission in all it’s glory. Honestly, it’s a real honor to be included with such talents as BB Saunders, Chris Hewitt, Craig Oldham, Darren Firth, David Corti, Michael Cina, Si Scott and many more.

You can see some more shots on my Flickr page.

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These next two additions to my collection have to be the most rare and the most expensive but also the most satisfying. Publicity and Graphic Design in the Chemical Industry (1967) and Graphic Design in Swiss Industry (1965) are both by Hans Neuberg and are part of the excellent ABC Verlag collection and contain page after page of some of the finest design work you’ll ever see. From packaging to letterheads these books will keep you hypnotized for hours… if you can find them.

You can see more photos from both books on my Flickr page.

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I added a new book to my collection this weekend titled Swiss Sports Posters that features… well… Swiss sports posters. The book is a collection of the best sports posters covering more than a century. Printed in 1983 and authored by Karl Wobmann and Max Triet, Swiss Sports Posters contains brilliant work that will get any designers juices flowing.

Check out the full gallery on my Flickr page.

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Here’s another rare gem that I managed to find. Signet Signal Symbol, by Walter J. Diethelm and published in 1984, is a book displaying commercial and cultural signs, symbols, logos and icons. What makes this book very unique are the three translucent pages featuring actual design sketches from the designers. An excellent insight into the process and evolution of the designs. Book itself is pretty rare but it makes an great inspirational tool for I need to sign logos and icons.

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This beautiful specimen just arrived today. A Sign Systems Manual by Theo Crosby, Alan Fletcher and Colin Forbes illustrates and describes a simple basic system for designing, contracting and displaying signs. It also dives into the history of alphabets and the development of type. It’s an excellent inspirational resource jam packed with pages and pages of gorgeous type examples.

This is the rarest and most expensive book I own. I found it for less than $100, that’s a great price considering that I’ve seen it for $300.

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Recently my obsession with collecting rare design books has reached an all-time high. In the last month I’ve added 14 books to my collection. Some hard to find, some not, some expensive, some cheap, but all amazing. I’ve photographed them for your viewing pleasure.

Books:

1999 - 20Th-Century Type Remix - Lewis Blackwell

1973 - Trademarks and Symbols: Symbolical Design, Volume 2 - Yasaburo Kuwayama

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This weekend I finally picked up Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Müller Brockmann. To say this is a great book would be an understatement. I think it’s one of the most important books on graphic design and every serious designer should put this at the top of their must read list. Brockmann does an exceptional job of explaining why a grid is so valuable to a design, and the important rules of setting type on a grid. This book alone will make me a better designer.

I also picked up Brockmann’s other great book, The Graphic Artist and his Design Problems. I haven’t read it yet but I plan to this week.

I’ve added photos of these books to my Flickr page along with:

We Are The World
Total Design: 40 Years
Braun Design Magazine
An Exhibition In Mono Catalogue
Spin/2: 50 Reading Lists

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I wrote about this magazine back in May and I managed to get a copy. It’s one of my favorite items in my collection, a true gem.

You can check out some more photos of it on my Flickr page.

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Recently I started to collecting vintage Avant Garde Magazines, mainly the ones with the pretty covers full of Avant Garde goodness. Herb Lubalin did a wonder job with this magazine. His interior layout designs are simple, clean and beautiful to look at and the typeface is one of my favorites. It’s amazing how the typeface has gone on to be such a big part of the modern design culture. I see the damn thing everywhere, even in cheesy catalogs and signage, and it’s butcher most of the time. But when used correctly it can be a wonderful thing.

Anyway, my collection is small, it only consists of issues 8, 11 and 13. Issue 8 is unique since it was released with 3 different covers. One white, one tan and one in a thick brown paper stock. Looks great in person.

Check out my Flickr page for more photos.

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Here’s a recent addition to the AisleOne Bookshelf.

Created for the Dallas Society of Visual Communications 3rd Annual National Student Show & Conference, this companion booklet to thinkingforaliving.org was created by BBDK’s creative director Duane King. Sized at 6” x 9” and consisting of 42 pages, the booklet is printed on salmon colored newsprint using only Cyan and Magenta. It’s absolutely gorgeous in person and a must for any collection. Duane did an excellent job. You can purchase at copy at You Work For Them.

You can view more photos of the booklet on my Flickr page

Also, don’t forget to check out my interview with Duane King.

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