Bruno Munari

How do we see the world around us? The Penguin on Design series includes the works of creative thinkers whose writings on art, design and the media have changed our vision forever. Bruno Munari was among the most inspirational designers of all time, described by Picasso as �the new Leonardo�. Munari insisted that design be beautiful, functional and accessible, and this enlightening and highly entertaining book sets out his ideas about visual, graphic and industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use everyday. Lamps, road signs, typography, posters, children�s books, advertising, cars and chairs � these are just some of the subjects to which he turns his illuminating gaze.

Design as Art

Lana

When the objects we use every day and the surroundings we live in have become in themselves a work of art, then we shall be able to say that we have achieved a balanced life.

Art is not technique, as everyone knows, and an artist can create with anything that comes to hand.

Olivier Estévez

Culture is not acddemic knowledge, it is information. Information about what is happening in the world about the things that make life interesting.

Copying nature is one thing and understanding nature is another. Copying nature can be simply a form of manual dexterity that does not help us to understand, for it shows us things just as we are accustomed to seeing them. But studying the structures of nature, observing the evolution of forms, can give everyone a better understanding of the world we live in.

I think a really necessary read for new designers (perspectives I would have wanted to be exposed to earlier! But they resonate and align with me now, so it was nice to see that this is something I can use in future classes or at least reference). 

Very much appreciate a design book that can tease the field itself—Munari is clearly incredibly fascinated and in love with design, but doesn’t take himself too seriously (and certainly reminds others to do the same themselves!).

Only qualm was that there are a few parts that dig into the ‘old euro man perspective™️’ that a lot of these older design books + essays have (this was 1966 after all). Some areas of assumptions and cultural generalizing that I found frustrating and distracting. But again Munari lacks a lot of the self-importance and definitiveness that I find annoyingly present in other design books from this same period and think it overall provided a novel discourse of the field at that time—and in many cases, now as well.

taylor miles hopkins

I think a really necessary read for new designers (perspectives I would have wanted to be exposed to earlier! But they resonate and align with me now, so it was nice to see that this is something I can use in future classes or at least reference). 

Very much appreciate a design book that can tease the field itself—Munari is clearly incredibly fascinated and in love with design, but doesn’t take himself too seriously (and certainly reminds others to do the same themselves!).

Only qualm was that there are a few parts that dig into the ‘old euro man perspective™️’ that a lot of these older design books + essays have (this was 1966 after all). Some areas of assumptions and cultural generalizing that I found frustrating and distracting. But again Munari lacks a lot of the self-importance and definitiveness that I find annoyingly present in other design books from this same period and think it overall provided a novel discourse of the field at that time—and in many cases, now as well.

Alla Dumnych

Для цієї книги, очевидно, треба бути розумнішою, аніж я є.:)
Але не можу сказати, що читання пройшло без задоволення. Принаймні хочеться познайомитись поближче із творчістю Бруно.

Irene Alegre

Really, really enjoyable book of essays on art and design. Some chapters were less interestinh than others, as it usually happens, but I found it a book full of curiosity, appreciation and enlightenment.

Orest Saksonov

Morgen Ruff

Elou

Christopher Butler

Matías Valenzuela

Teodorik

How do we see the world around us? The Penguin on Design series includes the works of creative thinkers whose writings on art, design and the media have changed our vision forever. Bruno Munari was among the most inspirational designers of all time, described by Picasso as ‘the new Leonardo’. Munari insisted that design be beautiful, functional and accessible, and this enlightening and highly entertaining book sets out his ideas about visual, graphic and industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use everyday. Lamps, road signs, typography, posters, children’s books, advertising, cars and chairs – these are just some of the subjects to which he turns his illuminating gaze.

Design as Art

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