Taking as its point of departure Roland Barthes’ classic series of essays, Mythologies, Rebecca Houze presents an exploration of signs and symbols in the visual landscape of postmodernity. In nine chapters Houze considers a range of contemporary phenomena, from the history of sustainability to the meaning of sports and children’s building toys. Among the ubiquitous global trademarks she examines are BP, McDonald’s, and Nike. What do these icons say to us today? What political and ideological messages are hidden beneath their surfaces? Taking the idea of myth in its broadest sense, the individual case studies employ a variety of analytic methods derived from linguistics, psychoanalysis, anthropology, sociology, and art history. In their eclecticism of approach they demonstrate the interdisciplinarity of design history and design studies. Just as Barthes’ meditations on culture concentrated on his native France, New Mythologies is rooted in the author’s experience of living and teaching in the United States. Houze’s reflections encompass both contemporary American popular culture and the history of American industry, with reference to such foundational figures as Thomas Jefferson and Walt Disney. The collection provides a point of entry into today’s complex postmodern or post-postmodern world, and suggests some ways of thinking about its meanings, and the lessons we might learn from it.

In the mid-twentieth century Eddie's Inferno Cocktail Lounge, Bunny Bread, Paris Shoe Shop, and many other businesses throughout New Mexico and the Southwest displayed eye-catching roadside signs created by the Zeon Corporation. These works of commercial art featured unique designs, irregular shapes, dynamic compositions, and neon light. The legendary fiesta dancer at the Albuquerque Terrace drive-in theater, for example, was well-known for the grace of its lines, its enormous size, and its flashing neon skirt. Created during a time before the simplified icons of major chains, many of these culturally significant artworks no longer exist. The Zeon Files rescues these historic artifacts from obscurity, presenting a collection of the working drawings of historic Route 66-era signs. In addition to presenting a visually rich archive, the authors discuss the working methods of design and construction and the craft of drafting techniques during this innovative era of American sign making.

This is a comprehensive introduction not only to the world's most important graphic designers but also a look at various styles, movements and processes. It particularly concentrates on the ideas and contributions of 50 of the world's most influential graphic desigenrs, and at 10 of the major movements in the field and their place in history. The book includes pieces on Eric Gill, Adrian Frutiger and Alphonse Muchta and on topics such as Politics and Propaganda in poster art, Futurism, New Wave and the Digital Age. All in all, this is a compact, easily accessible, quick guide to the field of graphic design.

ASCII - Graphic Glitch Art - Technology + Art + Design is a collection of black-and-white graphics generated through use of ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange. The entire book was generated in real-time online using simple text platforms with Special Characters and simple keyboard symbols, which in a diverse juxtaposition by copy and past repetitive action created graphic patterns. I discovered the GLITCH use of technique back in 2010 and was inspired to produce the graphics utilizing the online on Facebook by repetitive action to create this book. While working on an M.A. degree in Multimedia at California State University, I felt the need that allowed visual communication using graphics. Moreover, as an eco-artist and eco-activist, I felt a great need to have a way of producing graphics that allowed me to save paper, ink, paint, monthly studio rent, and storage space for the artwork I created. However, I have the daily need to create graphics, without consuming expensive art supplies by adding to overall environmental pollution. When I first came across GLITCH in 2010, I finally felt that I had found a simple way in online environment that allowed me to create and share my graphic designs instantly. Using the simple ASCII characters became a perfect tool for me to create patterns, which have an architectural nature with just very limited forms but challenging to produce sophisticated designs. Although challenging sometimes to reinvent and come out with new designs with the repetition, It also became a great fun, using the social media walls as an amusing playground. I truly fell in love with my daily activity, and spent hours pushing myself to reinvent new designs and possibilities while exploring the simple tool of ASCII. Furthermore, I also found a whole new community of Net artists, making new friends from around the globe who share my interest connecting with new colleagues in more engaging and collaborative manner. Since then, my book was transformed info a mini techno short film and traveled from exhibitions worldwide. This volume, ASCII - GRAPHIC DESIGN, presents and documents more then 350 pages of graphics created using simple text, ASCII characters and keyboard only. I hope that you will enjoy the book. Rozita Fogelman August 2013

Unlocking a new and overdue model for reading comic books, this unique volume explores religious interpretations of popular comic book superheroes such as the Green Lantern and the Hulk. This superhero subgenre offers a hermeneutic for those interested in integrating mutiplicity into religious practices and considerations of the afterlife.

In an attempt to bring dot grids to the masses at an affordable price, I've made this version available at the lowest possible price the publisher will allow me to list it at.
It contains 144 pages of 60# white paper, good for everyday writing and ideation. I wouldn't recommend very inky or fountain pens on it. The cover is a 10pt cover stock with matte finish. This makes it lightweight and flexible. The dots are a light grey and are spaced 4mm apart.
This is a great option for those that just need a simple notebook with a dot-grid pattern.
A version with premium paper, cover and binding are in the works. Visit thedotgrid.com for more information or email [email protected] with comments and suggestions.

A challenge of discipline and creative thinking, The 365 Project chronicles one designer's attempt to make something every day for a year. This printed edition of Bryn Hobson's original blog includes all 365 daily projects and new captions about the process for each one-perhaps perfect inspiration to start a side project of your own.