Typography: Basic Principles

The author sets out to demonstrate what typography is, and particularly what it is to the modern graphic designer.The first chapter describes the influences that have shaped modern typography, with particular emphasis on the effects of the teachings of William Morris and the Bauhaus typography workshop on the one hand, and the modern movements of painting and design, such as Dada and De Stijl on the other. This is followed by a chapter on present-day trends in typographic communication. Methods of preparing layouts for books and periodicals are discussed and there are some interesting suggestions for improving the appearance of advertising display. The final chapter, ‘Rules are made to be broken’, is a most stimulating selection of examples of experimental typography.John Lewis, F.S.I.A., the author of this book and editor of the series, is a well-known book designer, who has written extensively on the graphic arts; his books include A Handbook of Type and Illustration and Printed Ephemera, the recent, distinguished survey of throw-away printing.