Books » Design & Decorative Art Books

Cutting through the Colleges is a guided tour of the many inspiring Kindersley inscriptions to be found in Cambridge University's 31 colleges. The Cardozo Kindersley Workshop has cut these beautiful letters in stone, wood or brass, over some 60 years. There are maps and text to take you by the hand, and pictures galore to delight your eye, all in a lovely book of 128 pages to fit into your pocket. This book is an uplifting journey into a unique landscape of letters cut, easy to read and informative, a must-have for letter form enthusiasts and Cambridge visitors and residents. More information can be found at http://www.kindersleyworkshop.co.uk.

Japanese woodblock prints of the Edo period (1615-1868) were the products of a highly commercialised and competitive publishing industry. Their content was inspired by the vibrant popular culture that flourished in Edo (Tokyo). At any given time scores of publishers competed for the services of the leading artists of the day. Publishers and artists displayed tremendous ingenuity in finding ways to sustain demand for prints and to to circumvent the restrictions placed upon them by government censorship. Japanese woodblock prints have long been appreciated in the West for their graphic qualities but their content has not always been fully understood. In recent years, publications by scholars in Japan, Europe and the United States have made possible a more subtle appreciation of the imagery encountered in them. This book draws upon this recent scholarship to explain how those who first purchased these prints would have read them. Through stunning new photography of both well-known and rarely published works in the collection of the British Museum, including many recent acquisitions, the author explores how and why such prints were made, providing a fascinating introduction to a much-loved but little-understood art form.

The first-ever compilation of the most innovative design magazine of the 1960s and 1970s. Launched in 1961, Abitare is considered by some to be the Wallpaper* magazine of its day: the source of all things hip, important, and avant-garde, as well as must-know information and must-have objects, many of which have become design classics fifty years later. This important compilation brings together the very best of the Abitare universe: the most noteworthy design developments of the last fifty years, with emphasis on the 1960s and 1970s. Abitare was founded to cover the growing influence of Italian design but also to gather the most interesting trends worldwide, from the mod fashion in London, and the rise of alternative lifestyles in New York and San Francisco, to the development of industrial design in Milan. Classic articles from Abitare are reproduced in full, with their original English and Italian texts, while new essays by noted writers and past editors reflect on the influence of this trailblazing magazine.

The first large-format monograph on the interiors and building projects of Marcel Wanders, one of the most original designers working today. Marcel Wanderss distinctive output combines a flair for the theatrical with a unique understanding of space that has vaulted him into the top ranks of contemporary design. His interiors projects range from iconic hotels like the Mondrian South Beach in Miami, to fairy-tale private residences in Amsterdam, Mallorca, and Jakarta. Developed integrally with his product design, his spaces incorporate a romantic, monumental sensibility that has redefined interior design. Starting with his work for the Morgans boutique hotel chain (The Rivington in New York) and the London flagship for Mandarina Duck, Wanderss work has spread to four continents. He also has recently partnered with Philippe Starcks and John Hitchcoxs design-focused property development brand, yoo. The interiors developed by his Marcel Wanders Studio are drawn from a graphic tradition that combines the everyday with the ornamental, and these inspirational sources will be harnessed to create an unprecedented interior design volume.

Samurai, strongmen, demons, and detectives abound in this original selection of 64 woodblock-printed book covers and frontispiece illustrations from 1898 to 1903. Assembled by an expert in Asian art, who contributes captions and a substantial introduction, they offer rare glimpses of a newly rediscovered art form: the Japanese equivalent of dime-store novels.

Intricate scrollwork, elaborate b

Pages: 256, Edition: Original, Paperback, Focal Press

Almost a decade into his astounding career, James Jean has emerged as one of contemporary art's most important voices. From sell-out gallery shows in New York City and crowded signings at Comic-Con to kudos from the fashion world for his work for Prada, Jean's richly detailed art has struck a chord with fans across the globe. Rift showcases a brand-new collection of art in an elegant accordion-book format. Inside, two haunting landscapes span the connected pagesfolded in a variety of ways, the pages reveal myriad images hidden within the larger paintings.

A lighthearted twist on Rapunzel, the beloved fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, Tangled brims with thrilling adventure, a distinctive cast of characters, a daring heroine, and, of course, seventy feet of golden hair. Featuring the stunning concept art behind the newest Disney masterpiece, The Art of Tangled also includes a preface by John Lasseter, a foreword by Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, and interviews with the artists, animators, and production teamincluding Art Director David Goetzthat shed light on the history and artistry of this landmark film.

"This fascinating book is a gold mine for aviation trivia junkies." --Airforce Graphic War is a superb collection of top-secret drawings, including training manuals and colorful wartime posters, from World War II. They were brilliantly created from a few downed aircraft, but mainly from pilots' views of the enemy in the air, during missions. Almost all of the material was originally listed as "restricted -- official use only" and previously unpublished in any form. The cutaway drawings of the aircraft and airborne weaponry were critical to the war efforts of Allied and Axis forces alike. As there was little intelligence available to pilots about the design, power and armament on opposing aircraft, these "graphic transcriptions" were essential. Many of the graphic artists and technical illustrators employed by the Allies, and most employed by the Axis powers, remain anonymous. Their work survives on these pages, however, to provide rare and unique insight into war room strategy and the air- and ground-crew trainee classroom. Aviation enthusiasts, modelers, illustrators, artists and anyone with an interest in World War II history will find Graphic War a compelling inside look at the war fought in the sky.