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223rd out of 377 books
—
260 voters
Tibor Kalman: Perverse Optimist
by
Peter Hall ,
Michael Bierut , M. Bierut
Tibor Kalman: Perverse Optimist is the definitive and exuberant document of the late Tibor Kalman's work and ideas. This full-color, oversize title reveals Kalman's thoughts on magazines, advertising, sex, bookstores, food, and the design profession. Product designs, stills and storyboards from his film and video projects, and spreads from his book and magazine work are in...more
Paperback, 420 pages
Published
August 1st 2000
by Princeton Architectural Press
(first published 1998)
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Years ago I regularly bought copies of Colors magazine. I loved the unique in-your-face style of it, and how it was compiled and written for a truly global audience. Later I discovered children's books authored and illustrated by the amazingly creative Maira Kalman. Later still I discovered that it was her belated husband Tibor who had been the editor and driving force behind Colors. This book chronicles Tibor's path as an innovative, learn-as-you-go designer and creative genius. Alongside his w...more
Edited by Michael Bierut and Peter Hall, the 420 page book features work highlights of Kalman as he started his career at a New York City campus bookstore, which is now Barnes & Noble, Kalman's work at M&Co, to his work on Benetton's Colors magazine under Oliviero Toscani. It features some writing by Kalman, and contributions about Kalman by Paola Antonelli, David Byrne, Jay Chiat, Jenny Holzer, Isaac Mizrahi, Florent Morellet, Leonard Riggio, Rebecca Robertson, Ingrid Sischy, Elizabeth...more
I enjoyed this book, even though I'm not that interested in graphic design. It was very interesting for me to see what it was like to run a design firm (even if it's an unconventional one). Overall the more you are interested in graphic design and art the more interesting this book will be to you.
If there was a Mount Rushmore of graphic designers surely Tibor Kalman's head would be on it. Even if you have no hint of design aesthetic you will still marvel at his work. Thought provoking and funny Tibor could do it all. You've seen his work although you may not know it.
Out of all the heavy-hitters of graphic design, Tibor Kalman is definitely my favorite. This beautifully designed monograph explores the world of one of the world's most thoughtful and clever designers, whose body of work seen all at once is quite moving.
Tibor's vision foreshadowed the international, delightful, absurd culture of the internet. For those of us that are "of a certain age" - the web can feel like a user-generated issue of Colors, delivered a daily basis.
A great monograph about the unique and passionate designer, Tibor Kalman. A must read for all young designers.
Absolutely love Tibor Kalman - this man is a legend.
Likeable guy with fascinating broad portfolio.
I don't get it, Tibor Kalman's supposed to be this Brilliant Graphic Designer, so I bought this monograph. However, upon reading it, I find that he pales in comparison to current versions of designer-as-superstar like Sagmeister. I guess he did it in the nineties and it was provocative but I found his work to be only marginally interesting. After I purchased this I realized I really actually wanted to purchase Bruce Mau's monograph (easy to confuse those weird foreign names).
Sep 19, 2007
Judy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those that like pictures and revolutionary pop art
Nice compilation of Tibor Kalman's work. The book is very artsy with typography to look at for its design quailty - but I found difficult to read. The writing was not bad, just difficult to read under such red, yellow or black backgrounds. The images are very cool.
Probably the only designer monograph I've really READ and find myself going back to. Has the usual monograph flaws—not very critical, overly self-aggrandizing—but to have all of Kalman's work in one place to reference and show students is wonderful.
i pick this book up regularly off my shelf (when i have a bookshelf to speak of) and just flip through to find the most delightful bits and pieces of goodness. truly a brilliant man. and his wife, maira, amazing.
the MUST HAVE BOOK for the creative thinker. such an fascinating guy and his work is just so nice to look at.
It might be scary to think about how much this book influenced my life and career.
When in a bind, I think..."What would Tibor do?"
A great collection of Tibor's work and thinking.
May 17, 2013
Catherine
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2013
Jess
marked it as to-read
Mar 12, 2013
Alice
marked it as to-read
Mar 11, 2013
Rado
marked it as want-read
Mar 10, 2013
Jonas
marked it as to-read
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