Each design project involved problem solving, with the solutions. When elaine lustig cohen assumed ownership of her husbands midtown manhattan design practice after he died at the. Lustig was ultimately responsible for developing a distinctive style of dust jacket that served. Magazines, interiors, book jackets, packaging, fabrics, hotels, mall signage, the opening credits of the cartoon mr. Alvin lustig timeline final it was becoming increasingly clear, as i kept trying to simplify the lustig timeline and then simplify some more, that i wasnt coming any closer to an effective design. Design by lustig for new directions books edition of the play by tennessee williams, featuring a minimalist depiction of a man and two women on a lilac ba alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire, 1947, from the alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art, smithsonian institution. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket design, magazines, letterheads, catalogs, signage, furniture and lighting, textiles, interior. Born in 1915, alvin lustig grew up in denver, colorado. As a famed designer goes blind, his wife steps out from. So i jettisoned the concept, focusing instead on creating a series of nine book jackets that would describe lustigs career and historical context. A conversation with charlotte strick, book jacket designer. His career highlights include numerous book jackets for new directions and noonday press. Giustis unique designs became widely praised covers for publications such as fortune, holiday, modern packaging, graphis and time. Alvin lustig february 8, 1915 december 5, 1955 was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer.
Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin. The first projects to come out of new directions were anthologies of new writing. Fifties designer alvin lustigs book jackets provide inspiration for painted walls and floors. Born modern the entire life and the design of alvin lustig. The august, september, and october advertisementsthough similar in style to lustig s workwere not made by him, the november advertisement was attributed to rj wolff, and the december issue repeated a previous lustig design. Each of his allencompassing book covers had a life and character of its own, focusing on more than just one general image. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer identity. But really, when designing a book cover, his lustigs method was to read a text and.
Among the book jackets that strick has designed in recent. A few days ago, i remembered that i liked design observera collective blog that occasionally includes posts from the great steven heller. Drew was the coeditor of design education in progress. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a books contents, with. Little did they realize that alvin lustig, a totemic force in the field of the modern design, never offered to include her in his own projects. See more ideas about alvin lustig, graphic design and cover design.
By the time he died at the age of forty in 1955, he had already introduced principles of continue reading. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig graphic design. James laughlin in the book jackets of alvin lustig had this to say about. Lustig used the book cover as a vehicle of his bold graphic experimentation that was. Lustig has been honored by the american institute of graphic arts and the art directors club hall of fame for his significant contributions to american design. Oct 21, 2017 anatomy for interior designers by julus panerowhitney library of design, 1954illustrator. He began his career designing book jackets for book publisher ward ritchie, and for several local clients for whom he created stationery, programs and other printed.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book design and book cover design. Meridian books, thirteenth printing may a later printing, with the. The clients who attended called me and said, we want you to continue to do these projects. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig and george giusti. See more ideas about book design, book jacket and book cover design.
Jun 05, 2014 not every american midcentury modern designer was jewish. This book was wrapped in a black and white montage of five symbolic photographs and would go on to change the american. Esol summer reading book jacket project the illustrated man by ray bradbury mr. It is a masterpiece of symbolic acuity, compositional strength and typographic craft that appears to be, consciously or not, the basis for a great many contemporary book jackets and paperback 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 other publishers. When designing a book jacket for example, lustig would read the text first. Alvin lustigs restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design.
Johnsons design can be seen as conversation with lustigs, and as an extension. Such a symbol is a matter of distillation, a reduction of the book to its simplest terms of mood or idea. He further rejected the typical cover design that summarized a book through one generalized image. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Celebrated then as he is now for his strikingly modern book and book jacket designs as well as for his signage and interior design, today he is barely recognized for his contributions to progressive advertising. New directions publishing wikimili, the best wikipedia. Bookjackets by alvin lustig for new directions books, 1947. His wideranging work from the 1940s and early 1950s included book and book jacket. See more ideas about cover, alvin lustig and book cover design. His work was exhibited at the american institute of graphic arts, the ad gallery in new york.
Purity of aim the book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0. Alvin lustig died in new york on december 5, 1955, survived by his widow elaine firstenberg lustig, whom he had married in 1948. A student of frank lloyd wright, among others, alvin lustig had a very successful career in graphic design and art direction. It stands out with its symbolic acuity, compositional strength and typographic. 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. Like alvin, she worked on the edges, as she termed it, forgoing the more lucrative advertising projects for book covers and museum catalogs. 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. Thursday, august 18, 2011 2nd period for this book project, you will create a book jacket about the book you read with ms. See more ideas about alvin lustig, album covers and album cover design. 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. Collaborating with rutgersnewark colleague ned drew, he published by its cover.
As a book jacket designer, its imperative that the illustrations and the title and text is able to connect. For lustig, all design projects involved problem solving and all solutions were found in form and color. Biography an introduction about alvin lustig and his lifetime. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book cover, book jacket. Aldous huxleys words and their meanings book cover design by alvin lustig a paul rand. He began designing book covers in 1937 and revolutionized the approach to book cover design in the 1940s. The alvin lustig collection was donated to rit in 1986 by his widow, elaine. As publisher of new directions, laughlin hired lustig in the early 1940s. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a books contents, with handrendered lettering. Elaine lustig cohen on the late alvin lustig and the art, and archiving, of the book jacket. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer about alvin lustig. Alvin was twelve years her senior and already an established designer, working on architecture, furniture, textiles and the book jackets.
Immigrant and secondgeneration jews like george nelson, alvin lustig, anni albers, saul bass, paul rand. Alvin lustigs book jacket designs part 2 on behance. Alvin lustig was an american graphic designer, typeface designer and teacher. Jacket design and colophon edit after the time of world war ii, new directions developed a close relationship with the artist alvin lustig, who designed modernist abstract book jackets. Oscar wilde book jacket design by alvin lustig by scott lindberg, via covering book cover alvin lustig cover vintage book cover custom logo design from dapper paper book cover edouard roditi in the series the makers of modern literature. One of her best and longest clients was the jewish museum, which was at the center of new yorks avantgarde design scene at the time. 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. The life and design of alvin lustig chronicle books follows his brief but fruitful career in two and three dimensions. If you would like to look deeper into his life and work, visit the alvin lustig. After the time of world war ii, new directions developed a close relationship with the artist alvin lustig, who designed modernist abstract book jackets.
Lustig kept his hand in graphic design, continuing to produce quantities of book jackets for the new directions, knopf and noonday presses during the 1940s and 50s. Alvin lustig was an american book designer, graphic designer and typeface designer. Though lustig would consider it a small part of his overall output, no single project is more significant in this sense than his 1949 paperback cover for lorca. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig is a colorful and. 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. Jan 5, 2012 explore charlieaarons board while you cant judge a book by its cover, you can judge the cover. The late 1940s saw the development of lustigs architectural and interior design practice, and a number of industrial design commissions for lighting fixtures, fabrics and furniture. Elaine lustig cohen was recognized with a 2011 aiga medal for integrating european avantgarde and modernist influences into.
One of the most inventive though least remembered contemporary advertising designers was alvin lustig. Instead of making book jackets that tried summarizing the book, he would. 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. Celebrating elaine lustig cohen, the creative polymath.
Over the centuries, book jackets have changed with the times, modernism to postmodernism, drawings and illustrations to photographs and digital mastery. Book cover, bookjacket by alvin lustig for three tales by flaubert, new directions books, in tan and black ink on offwhite shiny wove paper. Alvin lustigs book jacket designs part 1 on behance. He also studied design independently with american architect frank lloyd wright at his taliesin studio. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig 0 graphic design archi here is a colorful and wellresearched representation of alvin lustigs book cover designs that were created primarily for new directions books and noonday press, among others. Magooeven a helicopteralvin lustig designed all of them. Industrial design, april 1954 illustration and design. Exiles by james joyce cover design by alvin lustig 1945. Dec 22, 2019 ive been flipping through pages of design books and im just so in love with all of his stuff. 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. Alvin lustig graphic designer whatever the medium, he could make it do things, make it extend itself under the prodding of his imagination. The book covers he created for the new classic series for. Alvin lustig s influence on american design and design.
With multidisciplinary talents, giusti also created sculptures, metalwork and designed several. Modern american book cover design and purity of aim. Rarely is the graphic designer given the chance to act upon what he considers his highest level upon a problem of serious intentions. Similarly, while working on yet another interior design project lustig met the lavernes, owners of laverne co. Lustigs ethic of good design and his bold graphic style has influenced every aspect of advertising and graphic design. See more ideas about alvin lustig, book jacket and graphic design. The book jacket designs of alvin lustig rit press rit. When elaine lustig cohen assumed ownership of her husbands midtown manhattan design practice after he died at the age of 40, most of.
Lustig was ultimately responsible for developing a distinctive style of dust jacket that served as a new directions hallmark for many years. Book is from the new classics sfgirlbybay bohemian modern style from a san francisco girl alvin lustig cover from the. His dust jackets were minimal distillations of the spirit of a book s contents, with. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The princess of cleves book jacket by alvin lustig by scott lindberg, via book cover alvin lustig biography alvin lustig was a renowned twentieth century graphic designer.
The designers task, no matter what the project, was to use words, forms and color to. He always felt the title graphic designer was too limiting, and its clear why. Though lustig would consider it a small part of his overall output, no single project is more. How jews designed the modern american home the atlantic. Legends like chip kidd, paula scher, sarah wyman whitman and alvin lustig have all made their marks on book jackets. Alvin lustig was the original design strategist petrolicious. Alvin lustigs amazing talent for creating visual narratives that captured the imagination inspired me to handcraft and faithfully reproduce 14.
In turn, they commissioned him to do a basic fabric titled incantation based on the witty glyphs on his new directions jackets. New directions developed a close relationship with the artist alvin lustig, who designed modernist abstract book jackets. Back in 2006, i had been asked to get in touch with the estate regarding his jacket designs for new directions. Volumes 1, 2 and 3 and coauthor of by its cover, purity of aim. His book jackets for new directions spoke to me in the way intriguing album artwork did. Lustig kept his hand in graphic design, continuing to produce quantities of book jackets for the new directions, knopf and noonday presses during the 1940s and 50s, and covers for several periodicals including fortune magazine. Alvin lustig alvin lustig s restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. One of his most memorable masterpieces is that of the book cover, lorca. Alvin lustig s book layout for the girl scouts of america in 1953.
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. I first met the artist and designer elaine lustig cohen through the website dedicated to her former husband, the legendary designer alvin lustig. The opportunity to design this series of book jackets was an unusual one. Lustig, alvin, notes for pw on jackets in alvin lustig papers, 19351955, archives of american art, smithsonian institution, washington, d. A oneman exhibition of lustigs work was mounted by new yorks ad gallery in 1949 and traveled to walker art center in minneapolis. Included are books, architecture, interiors, ads, identity and print. Alvin lustig papers, 19351955 archives of american art. Black flag logo chapter 55 book jacket typography lettering book publishing. Alvin lustig, modern american design pioneer books. George giusti, an italianborn and educated designer, first established a professional practice in switzerland and later, in the united states. Alvin lustig book jacket for a streetcar named desire, 1947. Alvin lustigs contributions to the design of books and book jackets.
Alvin lustig s restless curiosity during his short life was employed across many areas of art and design. Lustig returned to new york in 1951 where he continued to involve himself in diverse assignments, from book jackets for noonday press to an architectural identification program for northland shopping center in detroit. Aug 20, 2015 new directions is a series of small sculptures by mexican artist edgar orlaineta. The book jackets of alvin lustig by alvin lustig, paul spencer sternberger and ned drew 2010, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Graphic, architectural, and book designer, new york. Lustig was most recognized for his works at new directions publishing, where he had designed countless book jackets he had designed over seventy dust jackets for the new classics literary series, coming up with various approaches for the typeface design and integrating modern design along the way. 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. Jun 03, 2018 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. Alvin lustig s influence on american design and design education.
545 747 184 1214 1175 397 550 809 1043 1208 515 891 257 1297 148 1422 154 1453 684 234 415 1031 464 1204 498 21 602 1304 714 1277 777 353 1025 68 959 373 1077