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Here’s another gem from Unit Editions. A limited edition monograph featuring the work of Herb Lubalin. This book covers Herb Lubalin’s, from his beginnings in advertising, to his status as one of the most influential graphic designers of the last century.
The book is edited by Adrian Shaughnessy, Tony Brook and Alexander Tochilovsky, and designed Spin.
The previously unavailable typeface Pistilli Roman, designed by Herb Lubalin and John Pistilli, is now available as a font called Eloquent. As of now the only weight available is Regular but better than nothing. I’m looking for to using this gorgeous typeface in a future design.
Here’s an excellent article over at Thinking For A Living on the history of one of my favorite typefaces, Avant Garde.
Completed in 1966 and installed in the cafeteria of the CBS building, the Gastrotypographicalassemblage wall of type was created by legendary designers Lou Dorfsman and Herb Lubalin. The wall remained in the CBS cafeteria for over 20 years until it was removed in the 80’s and left to rot somewhere. It might have been lost forever if it weren’t for Nick Fasciano and The Center for Design Study, who are now restoring it to its original form.
Help with the restoration by sending your donations to The Center for Design Study and save an important piece of design history. I’m going to make a donation, I have to be a part of this. I wish there was a list of all the typefaces used on the wall. That would be sweet.
Check out more photos on the centers Flickr page.
I’m not much of a serif guy but I do love ITC Lubalin Graph. It’s basically a serif version of Avant Garde designed in 1974 by Herb Lubalin. The forms are identical in both typefaces, but Lubalin Graph contains slab serifs giving it the beauty of Avant Garde but with a more traditional feel. I know there’s an alternates version that contains special slanted letters and ligatures but I can’t find it anywhere. The entire family can be had for around $200 which includes Extra Light, Book, Medium, Demi and Bold. I might have to invest in this. There is also a condensed version but I doesn’t look that great.
If anyone has anymore info about this face or the alternates version, please shoot me an email. Thanks.
Recently I started to collecting vintage Avant Garde Magazines, mainly the ones with the pretty covers full of Avant Garde goodness. Herb Lubalin did a wonder job with this magazine. His interior layout designs are simple, clean and beautiful to look at and the typeface is one of my favorites. It’s amazing how the typeface has gone on to be such a big part of the modern design culture. I see the damn thing everywhere, even in cheesy catalogs and signage, and it’s butcher most of the time. But when used correctly it can be a wonderful thing.
Anyway, my collection is small, it only consists of issues 8, 11 and 13. Issue 8 is unique since it was released with 3 different covers. One white, one tan and one in a thick brown paper stock. Looks great in person.
Check out my Flickr page for more photos.