At First Sight: Everyday Graphic Design

Pierre Mendell's work is characterised by elements which are often missing in much contemporary graphic design: vibrancy, communicative force, poetry, and humor. His cultural posters and corporate design identities--including his designs for Vitra and Siemens, for which he is probably best known--are timeless yet contemporary. The success of his designs demonstrate that the strength of all graphic work depends on an overarching concept, not on current fads. Pierre Mendell: At First Sight aims to encourage designers to trust in the power of the idea and the impact of simple forms, as well as to see their work as a cultural expression of the wider society in which we live. AUTHOR: Pierre Mendell was born in 1929. He studied graphic design in Basle with Armin Hofmann, and later cofounded the design firm Mendell & Oberer in Munich. He has been awarded the Gold Medal from both the German and the New York Art Directors Clubs, and his work belongs in the design collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. 200 illustrations