Neue Grafik: New Graphic Design: Graphisme Actuel: 1958-1965 Paperback – February 18, 2015

This collection of 17 reprinted New Graphic Design magazines, written and edited by Lohse, Müller-Brockmann, Neuberg, and Vivarelli, are *the* throwback to Swiss Design--it's like rewinding design history and watching it unfold from the first issue (1958) through the final double-sized volume (17/18) in 1965. For example, in the first few issues alone, articles like typographer Emil Ruder's review of Frutiger's new type Univers, to a discussion of the displays at the 1958 World Expo give a sampling of the history that was in the making and being noticed/commented on. From a physical perspective, each individual volume is thin but large, with a laminated cover and measuring about 11" wide by 14" high--individually, each of these issues is fragile, but together in their slipcase they are solidly held. Given the cost of this set, it's really for specialists, but if you want to see Swiss Design in action over a prolonged period of time and can afford to splurge--or must have these for your academic library on Swiss Design--this is a great slipcased set of history.

In my opinion the significance of this set is not only in the beautiful content or in the way the magazines are designed, but also in the fact that it allows the reader to really get a unique understanding of the rationale and the thinking methods of the authors. For some reason that i cannot properly explain, these magazines show details and nuances that are rarely seen on books by the same authors. I feel that while books by Müller-Brockmann are immortal and foundational, articles by Müller-Brockmann in these magazines are spontaneous, less formal, and they allow the reader to catch a glimpse of his mind at work in the moment, without the rigor that a book would require.

Great project

Impeccable facsimile, as one expects from Lars Muller.

At last, a welcome reprint of this famous but short-lived Swiss magazine. Anyone who knows their design/typographic history will have read about the publication and maybe even seen a copy. It's reputation has grown over the decades despite a small circulation and it wasn't really professionally edited or promoted though the four editors, all designers, bought an enthusiasm and love of graphic creativity to each issue.The reprint is certainly a handsome production. A study box holds the seventeen copies (issues seventeen and eighteen were published as one in February 1965). The original magazine used a 150 screen, this reprint uses a 200 screen and copies each page properly using line and tone rather than screening the whole page. An additional forty-eight page book has background essays about New Graphic Design and its influence around the world, biographies of the four editors and an Index to the issues.I think Lars Muller are to be congratulated for reprinting this famous (least among designers) publication and making its contents available to a new audience.