Recent inspirations:Die schönsten Schweizer Bücher 2003 (designed by Norm, Zurich);
Die schönsten Schweizer Bücher 2002 (designed by Norm, Zurich);
ECAL : Design graphique/Graphic design/Graphik design, ECAL (Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne).
ECAL : PHOTOGRAPHY/PHOTOGRAPHIE, from
ECAL.
For information, these books were obtained from
www.books.ch (german language website where many best swiss books can be obtained), or amazon, who distribute an amazing number of obscure books too !!
Other major inspiration is Stuart Bailey's book from the
Werkplaats Typografie (Arnhem, NL) which gives a major insight into teaching methods of the WT. The ECAL graphic design book also gives insight into teaching methods employed at the school: for example, pages 19-28 show project propositions from various external professors, such as the late P. Scott Makela,
M/M paris, François Rappo (ECAL),
Vectorama,
Norm, Nicole Udry & Lise Hansen (
Central St. Martins, London).
Developing teaching methods is an essential part of the work of a graphic designer: otherwise his or her experience disappears without trace. The book or published object is really just a fossil, a trace or shell, the remnant of a process. Looking at finished objects is all very well, but which paths were taken to get there ? Which questions were posed ? Which strategy governed research ? What process ? The majority of design books published today are just coffee table books, pretty to look at, but with little in the way of real content. This says long about what a large proportion of graphic design is currently about.
Focussing on meaning is essential.
