Born Modern

This is a lovingly designed book that celebrates book design itself, in particular the extraordinary work of Alvin Lustig (1915-1955), whose death at age 40 nevertheless allowed time enough for his genius to flower. Book covers, ads, magazines, architecture, interiors, furniture--he did it all, in a seriously dedicated, distinctively innovative manner, and his influence lives on. This volume offers students of design and others a close-up view of Lustig's life and work. Steven Heller was art director at the New York Times for over 30 years and is currently affiliated with the School of Visual Arts in New York City; Elaine Lustig Cohen, Alvin's wife, worked closely with him and has continued as a prominent designer in her own right for 40 years. The book measures 9.5x12". Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Alvin Lustig was modern before it was cool. But there has never been a monograph devoted to his work--until now. A genius best known for his book covers and interior design, his theories on design education were precursors to the curricula of some of the most renowned design schools today. Lustig lent his imaginative vision and talent to a wide range of legendary projects, from the groundbreaking architecture of 1940s Los Angeles to magazine covers that have become collector's items. Spanning the breadth of Lustig's tragically brief but prolific career, Born Modern is a must-have for any student or practitioner of design, as well as anyone interested in the history of American visual culture.