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Visceral Pleasures
Vaughan Oliver is an influential member of the small group that changed the face of British graphics in the 1980s. Designed by Oliver himself, and written by Rick Poynor, this book illustrates the his intensely visual and emotive work in detail for the first time -- most notably his sumptuous sleeve imagery for London's 4AD label.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
About the author
Rick Poynor
40 books26 followersRick Poynor is a British writer on design, graphic design, typography and visual culture. He began as a general visual arts journalist, working on Blueprint magazine in London. After founding Eye magazine, which he edited from 1990 to 1997, he focused increasingly on visual communication. He is writer-at-large and columnist of Eye, and a contributing editor and columnist of Print (magazine).
In 1999, Poynor was a co-ordinator of the First Things First 2000 manifesto initiated by Adbusters. In 2003, he co-founded Design Observer, a weblog for design writing and discussion, with William Drenttel, Jessica Helfand and Michael Bierut. He wrote for the site until 2005. He was a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art, London from 1994 to 1999 and returned to the RCA in 2006 as a research fellow. He has also taught at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht. In 2004, Poynor curated the exhibition Communicate: Independent British Graphic Design since the Sixties at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. The exhibition subsequently travelled to four venues in China and to Zurich.
Poynor's writing encompasses both cultural criticism and design history and his books break down into three categories. He has written several monographs about significant British figures in the arts and design: Brian Eno (musician), Nigel Coates (architect) and Vaughan Oliver and Herbert Spencer (graphic designers). Other books document and analyse general movements in graphic design and typography. Among these are Typography Now, the first international survey of the digital typography of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and No More Rules, a critical study of graphic design and postmodernism. Poynor has also published three essay collections, Design Without Boundaries, Obey the Giant and Designing Pornotopia, which explore the cultural implications of visual communication, including advertising, photography, branding, graphic design and retail design.
Poynor was a prominent interviewee in the 2007 documentary film Helvetica.
In 1999, Poynor was a co-ordinator of the First Things First 2000 manifesto initiated by Adbusters. In 2003, he co-founded Design Observer, a weblog for design writing and discussion, with William Drenttel, Jessica Helfand and Michael Bierut. He wrote for the site until 2005. He was a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art, London from 1994 to 1999 and returned to the RCA in 2006 as a research fellow. He has also taught at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht. In 2004, Poynor curated the exhibition Communicate: Independent British Graphic Design since the Sixties at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. The exhibition subsequently travelled to four venues in China and to Zurich.
Poynor's writing encompasses both cultural criticism and design history and his books break down into three categories. He has written several monographs about significant British figures in the arts and design: Brian Eno (musician), Nigel Coates (architect) and Vaughan Oliver and Herbert Spencer (graphic designers). Other books document and analyse general movements in graphic design and typography. Among these are Typography Now, the first international survey of the digital typography of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and No More Rules, a critical study of graphic design and postmodernism. Poynor has also published three essay collections, Design Without Boundaries, Obey the Giant and Designing Pornotopia, which explore the cultural implications of visual communication, including advertising, photography, branding, graphic design and retail design.
Poynor was a prominent interviewee in the 2007 documentary film Helvetica.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2014
As we all know, sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover. Believe it or not, back when people still bought records, one was able to judge a new piece of vinyl by it's cover also. During the 80's and 90's whenever you stepped inside a record store and browsed the new arrivals one could never go wrong with buying the latest release on the 4AD label.
This book is an overview of that Ivo Watts-Russell (founder of the label) 4AD era, specifically Vaughn Oliver as under the name of 23 Envelope, then later as V23.
Oliver, a graphic designer along with photographer Nigel Grierson produced these beautiful record sleeves. This book is a beautifully illustrated production with analytically commentary by Rick Poynor is the first to examine both phases of Oliver's career.
From the beginning Oliver found Design, as conventionally and practiced, too rational and limiting. His long lasting relationship with 4AD gave him an exceptional opportunity to explore new approaches with the support of a committed client. At their most expressive and innovative, his graphic images embody his intense responses as a listener, plunging the viewer into a world of visceral sensation and pleasure.
Working in-house at Ivo's tiny south London company, Oliver created a stunning series of sleeves and posters for groups like the Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, The Pixies and Lush along with many others.
This book is an overview of that Ivo Watts-Russell (founder of the label) 4AD era, specifically Vaughn Oliver as under the name of 23 Envelope, then later as V23.
Oliver, a graphic designer along with photographer Nigel Grierson produced these beautiful record sleeves. This book is a beautifully illustrated production with analytically commentary by Rick Poynor is the first to examine both phases of Oliver's career.
From the beginning Oliver found Design, as conventionally and practiced, too rational and limiting. His long lasting relationship with 4AD gave him an exceptional opportunity to explore new approaches with the support of a committed client. At their most expressive and innovative, his graphic images embody his intense responses as a listener, plunging the viewer into a world of visceral sensation and pleasure.
Working in-house at Ivo's tiny south London company, Oliver created a stunning series of sleeves and posters for groups like the Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, The Pixies and Lush along with many others.
July 22, 2020
Beautiful book, visually
January 4, 2008
This book is pure eye candy. Mr. Oliver had a hugh influence on album cover design, the tremors of which still show up today. This is design as both a thing of beauty and mystery.
March 20, 2011
God I love Vaughan Oliver.
October 13, 2012
I got my copy of this via 4AD Mail Order (as was..)
Signed by Vaughan, with the inscription: "I mean, can you hear the music"
pure beauty
Signed by Vaughan, with the inscription: "I mean, can you hear the music"
pure beauty
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews