Graphic Designs Rants and Raves

Design is everywhere. Graphic design enters into everything. This is the scope of designer Steven Heller’s latest essay anthology that covers the spectrum of graphic design and related art and culture. Looking at design as practice, language, culture, and power, each of the forty-plus essays is a self-contained story. Heller pours out his ideas—criticisms and celebrations—on such topics as: A history of our modern Hindu-Arabic numerals, and a look at the letter K Brand design utilized by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump early in the 2016 Presidential race The tumultuous relationship between design and sex The Charlie Hebdo massacre and the principles of free expression Icons revisited, including Paul Rand (not to be confused with the politician Rand Paul), Ralph Ginzburg, Frank Zachary, George Lois, and Print magazine Food packaging, the design of milk, and USPS stamps The obsessive use of cuteness, and the sad and happy history of the ubiquitous happy face