This accessible book demonstrates how ideas influenced and defined graphic design. Lavishly illustrated, it is both a great source of inspiration and a provocative record of some of the best examples of graphic design from the last hundred years. The entries, arranged broadly in chronological order, range from technical (overprinting, rub-on designs, split fountain); to stylistic (swashes on caps, loud typography, and white space); to objects (dust jackets, design handbooks); and methods (paper cut-outs, pixelation).

About the authors:

Steven Heller is the co-chair of the MFA Design/Designer as Author + Entrepreneur program at the School of Visual Arts, New York. He is the author of more than 180 books on design and popular culture and the recipient of the 2011 Smithsonian National Design Award.

Véronique Vienne has worked at a number of US magazines as art director and is the author of The Art of Doing Nothing and The Art of Imperfection, as well as Something to be Desired. A frequent contributor to Graphis and Metropolis magazines, she lives in Paris.

This book is an introduction to what art direction is and what art directors do.

Written by two of the world's leading experts on the subject, it covers the role of art director in numerous environments, including magazines and newspapers, advertising, corporate identity, museums and publishing, to name a few. It also provides an insight into what makes a successful art director, what an art director actually does all day, what makes things go right, and what makes things go wrong.

Alongside perspectives on typography, illustration, photography and more, there are case studies of successful art direction in different spheres, from McSweeney's to Vier5's design for the web. In addition, the authors have invited pre-eminent international art directors to talk about their roles and to create and art direct sections of the book as part of that discussion, resulting in an impressive and enlightening diversity of perspectives and impressive variety of design approaches.

Clearly written and entertaining, including a glossary of handy art director sayings, an 'art director test' and more, Art Direction Explained, At Last! will provide students with insights into the world of art direction and professionals with a bible to the profession.

About the Authors:

Steven Heller is co-chair of the Designer as Author program and co-founder of the Design Criticism program at SVA, New York. For 33 years he was an art director at the New York Times. He is editor of AIGA VOICE, contributing editor to Print, Eye, Baseline and I.D., and author of 120 books on design, including Design Literacy and Paul Rand. He received the 1999 AIGA Medal for Lifetime Achievement.

Véronique Vienne has worked at a number of US magazines as art director, and is the author of The Art of Doing Nothing and The Art of Imperfection, as well as Something to be Desired. A frequent contributor to Graphis and Metropolis magazines she lives in New York and teaches at SVA on the Graphic Design MFA programme.

Contents:
Section One: What is an Art Director?
Section Two: Creative Tension 101 (What makes Art Direction Work)
Section Three: Auto Art Direction
Section Four: Nuts and Bolts