Design Dialogues

by Elinor Petit and Steven Heller

This wide-ranging compilation of interviews offers a colorful and candid introduction to the personalities, passions, and work of thirty- four respected designers, artists, authors, and media... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581150075
• ISBN13: 9781581150070
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Allworth Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.8" x 9.8"

Customer Reviews

Interesting and wide-ranging discussions on design

I've read three or four books by Steven Heller so far, and for me this one has been the most gripping. He interviews a broad spectrum of characters, from ad men to environment designers to collectors of design artifacts. The interview with Stewart Ewan on the history and ethics of PR and the story of Morris Wyszogrod's time in a concentration camp are provocative highlights. Ralph Ginzburg's tale of his imprisonment for obscenity is also an amazing story, especially having seen an issue of the 'offending' magazine, which is less obscene than most Axe Body Spray commercials. My only complaint with this book, which I've had with all of Heller's books, is the lack of information about the images that introduce each chapter. In some cases, they are discussed in the interview, or it's obvious what you're looking at, but in many cases not, and it's extremely frustrating. No credits, title, or any clue where one might find more information. However, in this case it doesn't detract from the effectiveness of these interviews. Definitely worth reading.

Uneven but Solid

Design Dialouges is a collection of interviews conducted with legends like Paul Rand and Massimo Vignelli and lesser known designers like Dan Solo and Rodney Alan Greenblat. The quality of the interviews are mixed. Bierut, Vignelli, Lupton, Wyszogrod, Wurman, Solo, and Rand are the cream of the crop making the book easily worth its price. Wyszrogrod's story of surviving the horror of concentration camps using his design skills is inspirational and Vignelli makes a great case for his theories on design. To the book's credit even the bad articles are bad in a good way. George Lois' interview may very well be the most grating piece of writing I have ever read. It's ten pages of him describing how talented and important he is to the world, but he gives some good case studies and after five or so pages he becomes the guy you love to hate. Any student of design should read this book and the Looking Closer book series which are similar in format. This book lets you into the minds of the people who shape the design community. Invaluable information for any up and coming design profesional.