Through the turbulent passage of time, graphic design-with its vivid, neat synthesis of image and idea-has distilled the spirit of each age. Surrounding us every minute of every day, from minimalist packaging to colorful adverts, smart environmental graphics to sleek interfaces: graphic design is as much about transmitting information as it is about reflecting society's cultural aspirations and values. This second volume rounds off our in-depth exploration of graphic design, spanning from the 1960s until today. About 3,500 seminal designs from across the globe guide us in this visual map through contemporary history, from the establishment of the International Style to the rise of the groundbreaking digital age. Around 80 key pieces go under the microscope in detailed analyses besides 118 biographies of the era's most important designers, including Massimo Vignelli (New York subway wayfinding system), Otl Aicher (Lufthansa identity), Paula Scher (Citibank brand identity), Neville Brody (The Face magazine), Kashiwa Sato (Uniqlo brand identity), and Stefan Sagmeister (handwriting posters). With his sweeping knowledge of the field, author Jens Muller curates the standout designs for each year alongside a running sequence of design milestones. Organized chronologically, each decade is prefaced by a succinct overview as well as a stunning visual timeline, offering a vivid display of the variety of graphic production in each decade as well as the global landscape which it at once described and defined. This collection of important graphic works represents a long-overdue reflection on the development of a creative field constantly changing and challenging itself. These key pieces act as coordinates through contemporary history, helping us trace the sheer influence of graphic design on our daily lives. Combined with Volume One-which spans from the field's very beginnings until 1959-the tomes offer the most comprehensive exploration of graphic design to date.

About the Author
Jens Muller was born in Koblenz, Germany, in 1982 and studied graphic design. Recipient of numerous national and international design awards, he is creative director of Vista design studio in Dusseldorf and professor of corporate design at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Julius Wiedemann studied graphic design and marketing and was an art editor for newspapers and design magazines in Tokyo before joining TASCHEN in 2001. His titles include the Illustration Now! and Record Covers series, as well as the infographics collection and books about advertising and visual culture.

Reviews
"Jens Muller ambitiously traces not only the evolution of an industry, but also the arc of our aesthetics." * TIME *
"Chronicle, treasure of pictures, source of ideas-and above all, great fun." * spiegel.de *
"Graphic design history is a cultural, political, social, and technological history. Since it is impossible to understand one without the other, this book, which looks at the legacy and heritage of graphic design, is an essential portal to our appreciation of the world's history." * Steven Heller *



Book Information
ISBN 9783836570374
Author Jens Muller
Format Hardback
Page Count 480
Imprint Taschen GmbH
Publisher Taschen GmbH
Weight(grams) 3793g