Phaidon book gathers together 500 of the most iconic graphic designs of all time

Phaidon’s latest book Graphic: 500 Designs that Matter, gathers together the most iconic graphic designs of all time, “from the beginnings of mechanical reproduction to the present”. The book celebrates the history of graphic design by showcasing an international range of successful and timeless designs.

The material has been complied from the Phaidon Archives of Graphic Design and aims to be a “definitive selection of newspapers, magazines, posters, advertisements, typefaces, corporate designs and record covers”, as well as incorporating rare historical and archival materials.

The postcard-size, 700-page book spans 600 years, presenting readers with the best in visual communication, from the first examples of mechanical production during the 15th Century, to designs that were borne out of the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th Centuries, as well as popular icons and cutting-edge work for the 20th Century.

A compact catalogue, this graphic design survey include gems such as Milton Glaser’s I Heart NY logo, Shepard Fairey’s Obama poster and a Bauhaus programmes books created by László Moholy-Nagy, Herbert Bayer, Walter Gropius. For clarity, the chunky tome also feaures a timeline, highlighting graphic design’s journey that spans both geography and time.

Graphic: 500 Designs that Matter is published by Phaidon and is available from 20 March 2017.