Jan tschichold, master typographer of the 20th century. Jan tschicholds most popular book is the new typography. Tschichold claimed that he was one of the most powerful influences on 20th century typography. A collection of essays written between 1949 and 1974, the year of tschicholds death. Books by jan tschichold author of the new typography. Jan tschichold was one of the most distinguished typographers of the last century, and has had many admirers, among whom he himself was not the least. Two of the most significant works till this present day are both jan tschicholds publications the form of the book essays on the morality of good design published in 1948 and the new typography published in 1948. His life, work and legacy this tributeastome to tschichold s work puts his work and ideas into an historical perspective, while showcasing his immense talent. This canon was popularized by jan tschichold in his book the form of the book.
As the lead designer on unit interactives recently launched curations series, i found new relevance in these pages. There are few who would attempt to deny that statement. Jan tschichold 19021974 worked as a typographer and teacher in germany, switzerland, and england. It was this group that formulated the principles of what was proclaimed the new typography. He played a significant role in the development of graphic design in the 20th century first, by developing and promoting principles of typographic modernism, and subsequently and.
Jan tschichold born johannes tzschichhold, also known as iwan tschichold, or ivan tschichold. The form of the book, recommended reading archive jason. Tschicholds views seem limiting at first, but his knowledge is based on years of careful research into the basis of our written culture. This work explains why so many publications appear wretched in terms of design.
The son of a sign painter and trained in calligraphy, tschichold began working with typography at a very early age. The form of the book by jan tschichold, 9780881791167, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jan tschichold died on august 11, 1974, in locarno, switzerland. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. One of the main elements i found interesting while carrying out research into penguin book covers was the evolution of the logo. An interest in calligraphy formed, fueled by his personal studies of the books tschichold poured himself into especially those which covered calligraphy, ornamental script and writing. Essays on the morality of good design classic typography series jan tschichold, hajo hadeler, robert bringhurst on. The form of the book is a collection of tschichold s major essays, sans those where he condemns typographic ignorance of the time.
Jan tschichold left an impression upon the world of graphic design and typography that few could compete against. It also teaches to truly appreciate rare, exceptionally well designed volumes. The occasions for using sans serif are as rare as those for wearing obtrusive decorations. Jan tschichold master typographer is, as its title suggests, intended as a tribute to its subject, but it is one which would have displeased him greatly. The simple penguin icon changed a vast amount between 19352003. After penguin, tschichold returned to switzerland in 1949, where he continued his work as a master typographer, writer and educator.
Jan tschichold german typographer and author britannica. Penguin by design penguin by design offers a fantastic glimpse into the history, process and thought behind the design of penguins offerings jan tschichold. See more ideas about typography, graphic design and book design. I found a source in the book jan tschichold designer, the penguin years by richard b.
A collection of 23 essays compiled over 40 years on tschicholds thoughts on layout and design, primarily with type. This book was followed with a series of practical manuals on the principles of modernist typography which had a wide influence among ordinary workers and. Essays on the morality of good design classic typography series. The son of a sign painter, tschichold trained as a calligrapher and designer at the leipzig academy of graphic arts and book production 191921 and then. By focusing on clear communication the readers attention would be refocused to the meaning of the text rather than arbitrary, as he saw it, visual clutter. Jan tschichold 2 april 1902 leipzig, germany 11 august 1974 locarno, switzerland born as johannes tzschichhold, also iwan tschichold, ivan tschichold was a calligrapher, typographer and book designer. Examining how jan tschichold 19021974 took on the herculean task of creating a uniform design that could be applied to mass production, this title surveys the typographic revolution that tschichold masterminded at penguin books. As a web designer this book taught me how to set readable, easytodigest blocks of type. See more ideas about typography, graphic design and penguin books. In the red corner we have the form of the book by jan tschichold in 1975.
Essays on the morality of good design classic typography series reprint by tschichold, jan isbn. Essays on the morality of good design by tschichold, jan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He played a significant role in the development of graphic design in the 20th century first, by developing and promoting principles of typographic modernism, and subsequently and ironically idealizing. While this work focuses mostly on concerns specific to book design, its presentation of topics is wonderfully approachable, and many of the guidelines are applicable to any medium. Very few of those who write about typography and book design and they are. Tschichold writes for purposes of better comparison i have based his figure on a page proportion of 2. Principles by jan tschichold 1816 words 8 pages the morality of goof book design principles by jan tschichold attempting to give an answer to my question how tadao ando would approach designing a book i believe it is important to study literature and theories of book design, layout and typography as such. The form of the book is actually a collection of essays written from 1949 through 1974 by jan tschichold and was originally compiled in 1975. A working library collects reading and writing from mandy brown. Tschichold believed that clarity, rather than beauty, was the highest form of book arts. The notion of canons, or laws of form, of book page construction was popularized by jan tschichold in the mid to late twentieth century, based on the work of. He played a significant role in the development of graphic design in the 20th century first, by developing and promoting principles of typographic modernism, and subsequently idealizing conservative typographic structures. Raised in germany, he worked closely with paul renner who. However, the appearances of the cover of the book or the continue reading jan tschichold.
Jan tschichold, german typographer and author who played a seminal role in the development of 20thcentury graphic design and typography. Jan tschichold was a calligrapher, typographer and book designer. Jan tschichold has 19 books on goodreads with 3521 ratings. This book is a collection of tschichold s essays that were written between the 1930s up to the 1970s. His direction of the visual identity of penguin books in the decade following world war ii served as a model for the burgeoning design practice of planning corporate identity programs. In this canon the text area and page size are of same proportions, and the height of the text area equals the page width. From strongly advocating the beauty of sans serif fonts and clean, organised design 20 years before it took off, to strengthening the design of penguin books to turn them into the something special that they are. Jan tschichold 2 april 1902, leipzig 11 august 1974, locarno was a typographer, book designer, teacher and writer. Be the first to ask a question about asymmetric typography. Jan tschichold most people are more interested on the content inside a book, newspaper or a magazine than they are interested on the cover of the book or the advertisement appearing on the centre pages of the newspaper. The form of the book is a collection of tschicholds major essays, sans those where he condemns typographic ignorance of the time.