herb lubalin: american graphic designer (1918-81) compact edition

herb lubalin: american graphic designer (1918—81) compact edition

title: herb lubalin (compact edition) by unit editions
author: adrian shaughnessy
editors: tony brook, adrian shaughnessy & alexander tochilovsky
design: spin
published by: unit editions
format: 174 x 230mm
features: hardback with foiled 3/4 wrap) 336 pages
language:
ISBN: 978–0–9575114–3–9
available from unit editions

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designboom rating: (excellent)
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(portrait of herb lubalin)

‘herbie – I fucking loved that guy.’  – george lois

unit editions have announced a new compact edition of their popular monograph herb lubalin: american graphic designer (1918—81). the new version has the same high production values as the deluxe edition – only smaller.

the book illustrates the life of the american graphic designer herbert f. (herb) lubalin – best known as the founder of U&lc, designer of avant garde, eros, and fact magazines. he was both ambidextrous and colourblind; he was one of the original mad men (but later rejected advertising); a grunt was often his only comment when shown work by designers in his studio; and he was a politically engaged designer who frequently supported liberal causes in 60s and 70s america.

the original idea to produce a book on herb lubalin came from unit editions’ co-founder tony brook who said ‘lubalin taught us that legibility is overrated’. brook also noted that in the 80s and 90s lubalin was chronically unfashionable but in the last decade his work has gained a strong following as swashes, ligatures and hand scripts have all found their way back into mainstream graphic design.

featured over 336 pages is the same meticulously researched content as the 2012 deluxe edition – offering a complete career overview of herb lubalin, beginning with his early days working in the new york advertising world of the 50s and 60s, and continuing into the years of his greatest achievements as one of the world’s most influential typographers and graphic designers.

the book can is now available for pre-order from unit editions
at a reduced price of £30 and will be shipped in december 2013.

all images courtesy of unit editions:

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designboom book report ratings:

……………………. interesting
………………. good read, worth a look
…………. very good
……. excellent, recommended
. must have

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