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

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

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.

PG Gonni

And why is it the designer who is called upon? Why is the artist not torn from his easel? Because the designer knows about printing, about the techniques used, and he uses forms and colours according to their psychological functions. He does not just make an artistic sketch and leave it up to the printer to reproduce it as best he may. He thinks from the start in terms of printing techniques, and it is with these that he makes his poster.

Often a firm unwilling to call in a graphic designer will use lettering suited to cheese to present a book of famous artists, and we may see an advertisement for the Bible which looks at first sight as if it were trying to sell us beer.

When a lot of money comes along before culture arrives, we get the phenomenon of the gold telephone. And when say culture I don't mean academic knowledge, I mean formation: information about what is happening in the world, about the things that make life interesting.

"The greatest freedom comes from the greatest strictness. (Paul Valéy)

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