Ray Gun: Out of Control

I spied this on a client's bookshelf the other day. Reminded me of my own copy. Takes me back to a time when so many designers wanted to do everything in the style of Mr Carson.

I do like the line of typesetting an entire article in Dingbats, as the interviewee as total prick. Would make decent Greasemonkey plugin to change the typeface and pages that bore you. I've never seen a webpage set in Dingbats - maybe it's time....

Amazon Synopsis is to the point, if a little unhelpful. Not sure it's really that potent.

A potent blend of selected pieces from Californian magazines "Ray Gun", "Stick" and "Bikini". This text traces their evolving design with the work of David Carson, Vaughan Oliver and Robert Hales, and examines the culture that has produced them. Iggy Pop, Brian Eno, Quentin Tarrantino, Michael Stipe and Oasis are among contributors.

Adland and the Futurist

Again drawn from Welcome to Optimism this quote made me think that Adland: Searching for the Meaning of Life on a Branded Planet could have its moments as a read. Although like all ad/creative books probably includes a lot of client bashing

Being put up for review (of an account as the incumbent) is akin to having your spouse announce in front of everyone you know that he or she no longer loves you and for the next several months he or she will be seeing other people -- dozens of smarter, younger, cooler people, many of whom, by the way, you know quite well -- and then having all sorts of kinky, experimental sex with the most interesting and promising of them, probably no more than six, often doing many of the things that you may have once suggested but were never allowed to... (Read more at W+K)

The author, James P. Othmer - also penned the novel, the Futurist. Here's what Amazon/critics have to say:

'This spirited dissection of the contemporary cultural and political zeitgeist is a stylish winner in its own weird right' Publishers Weekly
'A debut novel so slick and seductive, you'll find yourself reaching for your wallet without even knowing what's for sale' LA Weekly
'Othmer has mingled the conceits of the corporate-spy thriller with those of domestic fiction, over-the-top lampoon with moving passages of suburban angst' The Washington Post
'The Futurist is a novel to enjoy right here, right now, before time renders its meticulous name-dropping totally cryptic' The Village Voice.

Up the Organisation

Discovered on W+K blog with a simple introduction:

Robert C. Townsend's 'Up The Organization' is a classic business book from the sixties. Checking it out on Amazon, I came to the conclusion that it's as good for you today as it's always been. Townsend was the CEO at Avis who appointed DDB and approved the famous 'We try harder campaign'.

This excerpt is appealing:

Moral: Don't hire a master to paint a masterpiece and then assign a room full of school-bot artists to look over his shoulder and suggest improvements.


Now I like these kind of books but they are usually 50-70% over on content - being much easier to read, better value and be more of use if made shorter. The publishers must think they need to be padded out to justify an increased price.

Social media as book covers

While browsing found these, which I like. (Re)envisioning popular web services as book jackets. Could be extended to technology, brands, people as made up book titles. Reminds me of this gem with Wu-Tang Clan as Blue Note artists.

Home is Where The Heart Is

by Ilse Crawford (Author)

Seen it a few times as a reference for a project I'm working on. If you keep your eyes peeled in the Bond Street/Oxford Street area in a few weeks you'll be able to see what it inspired.

It's a lovely book, with great photography and an interesting idea behind it.

From Amazon: "We want to be modern, but we want to be human too' Ilse Crawford Ilse Crawford is constantly breaking new ground in her study of the individual's search for the perfect home. Continuing the theme of 'one eye sees, the other feels' from her previous book, Sensual Home, this book moves beyond the senses to an investigation of our basic human drives for survival, safety, love, respect and self-fulfillment. This is then expanded to how we live, our homes and our daily activities. Despite our increasing reliance on technology to bring ease and comfort to our lives, Ilse says 'we still want a sense of humanity, of home - a space that speaks to us radically and emotionally.' A unique flow of thought-provoking text, evocative photography and state-of-the-art design combine to produce a reaction in the reader which is as emotional as it is intellectual.

Art U Need: My Part in the Public Art Revolution

by Bob Smith (Author), Roberta Smith (Author)

Just caught my eye as an interesting read. Let you know what I think.

From Amazon: Artist Bob and Roberta Smith was recently appointed by Commissions East to oversee a project in which five artists were commissioned to create site-specific projects to transform open spaces in South Essex. Art U Need: My Part in the Public Art Revolution is an intimate account of this project, written in diary form. With sensitivity, candour and a great deal of humour, Bob Smith, and his alter ego, Roberta, ponder the nature and place of public art in today s world

Turner Prize 2009 Booklet

The show catalogue for this years Turner Prize at Tate Britain - showcases the four shortlisted artists. A quick and interesting read.

From Tate: "The Turner Prize is a contemporary art award that was set up in 1984 to celebrate new developments in contemporary art. The purpose of the annual Turner Prize is to draw attention to new developments in the world of contemporary art in Britain and to encourage wide debate around them. Each year a jury is asked to select a shortlist of four artists, British-born or working in Britain, whose publicly exhibited work over the past year has seemed especially innovative or important. An exhibition introducing the work of each artist is then staged at Tate Britain.

This booklet accompanies The Turner Prize 2009 and highlights each of the four artists being nominated this year, Enrico David, Lucy Skaer, Roger Hiorns and Richard Wright."