The ABC's of Triangle, Square, Circle: The Bauhaus and Design Theory

A new edition of a design classic.

Originally published in 1991, The ABC’s of Triangle, Square, Circle traces the origin and impact of the Bauhaus (the legendary art school in Dessau, Germany, operational from 1919 to 1933, that transformed architecture and design around the world) in relation to design, psychoanalysis, geometry, early childhood education, and popular culture.

The text is a provocative exploration of the school’s aims and achievements, while the book itself is a manifesto of Bauhaus ideals, synthesizing editorial concept, typography, and craftsmanship.

Editors Ellen Lupton and J. Abbott Miller, whose multidisciplinary approach changed the field of design writing and research, designed this book in a manner that honors the aspirations of the Bauhaus, this extraordinary manual is a source of inspiration for design professionals and students and a revelation for all those interested in twentieth-century culture.

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The Bauhaus, the legendary school in Dessau, Germany, transformed architecture and design around the world. This book broke new ground when first published in 1991 by introducing psychoanalysis, geometry, early childhood education, and popular culture into the standard political history of the Bauhaus.

The ABC's of Triangle, Square, Circle also introduced two young designers, Ellen Lupton and J. Abbott Miller, whose multidisciplinary approach changed the field of design writing and research. With a new preface by Lupton and Miller, this collection of visually and intellectually stimulating essays is a must-read for educators and students.

About the Authors:

J. Abbott Miller uses design to explore and interpret art, architecture, performance, fashion, and design. As a partner in the New York office of Pentagram, he combines the work of editor, writer, curator, and designer.

Ellen Lupton is the senior curator of contemporary design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and founding director of the Graphic Design MFA program at Maryland Institute College of Art. She is author of Thinking with Type and Graphic Design: The New Basics.