Designing Books: Practice and Theory:

by Jost Hochuli

This book has three parts. In the first two, basic principles in the theory and practice of book design are discussed. The third part then shows how the ideas of the first and second parts have been applied in particular examples. 'Book design as a school of thought' was originally delivered (in German) as a lecture and published as a pamphlet, in 1991. This is its first publication in English. 'Designing books' was published as a separate booklet by Agfa (Wilmington, Mass.) in 1989, in German. Translation into several other languages followed, including an English edition (1990): all long out of print. The version published here has been revised and considerably augmented with new illustrations. The third part, 'Books designed by Jost Hochuli', is completely new. Here Robin Kinross comments on 27 of Hochuli's works. Both authors are internationally known, Kinross more as critic and historian, Hochuli above all as a practitioner. In this book they offer a serious introduction to book design, free of ideological dogma. Short and concise, it contains a rich, painstakingly selected fund of illustrations.

Genres: Design, Art Design, Nonfiction, Art, Books About Books, Reference

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in 1996, Designing Books is a modern classic on the subject. It focuses on the tension between classic symmetrical typography and the modernist asymmetrical typography that came after it. This was somewhat strange to read in 2012, since classic and modernist book typography both seem normal and not as politically or culturally at-odds as Hochuli describes in the text.

The entire book had this same issue: it felt like it was exploring topics that have since been settled. Or worse, it occasionally dabbles in the technical complexities of book production which are no longer complexities. I had to keep reminding myself that this was written in the days before electronic page-layout, digital proofs, on-demand printing, etc.

The book is gorgeously illustrated in black and red spot color, with examples ranging from the 1930s through the 1980s. It's short enough to recommend to anyone interested in book design, but only as a supplement to information learned elsewhere.

[Patricia Bolea]

Hi I'm a student of visual design, and I need this book for my formation, it's possible to have the pdf version please?

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todo lo necesario para entender cómo diseñar un libro está aquí. Es un manual imprescindible.

[Massimo Redaelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicely written, nicely laid out, nicely illustrated.

The examples are interesting, as is the first part, mostly from a historical point of view.

But content-wise, namely part two, pretty superficial.

[Andrew]

Serious, but not pretentious. Great examples. Perhaps a little heavy for someone who's only trying to design a 'zine, but.. LEAGUE OF INTREPID NATURALISTS, Vol. 2, to be released January 2011!!

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

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