This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
Transforming Type: New Directions in Kinetic Typography
By Barbara Brownie
Film credits, television idents, interactive poetry, and motion graphics are examples of kinetic or moving types in Transforming Type. Typographic sequences can present active and reactive letters as the screen increasingly mimics the properties of real-life environments. These settings provoke new debates about the distinction between motion and change, global versus local transformation, and the relationship between word and picture.
Barbara Brownie investigates how letterforms transform on-screen and the effects of these transformations in this fascinating research. She distinguishes motion from other types of kineticism, citing examples such as Kyle Cooper’s title sequence design, kinetic poetry, and MPC’s idents for the UK’s Channel 4, focusing on the transformation of letterforms into other forms and objects through construction, parallax, and metamorphosis. She claims that each of these kinetic behaviours forces us to reconsider our beliefs about the nature of alphabetic forms and the spaces in which they exist.
Shop Now
More on Graphic Design Books
Stockholm Design Lab: 1998–2025 by Victionary
Victionary’s monograph, “Stockholm Design Lab: 1998–2025,” explores the agency’s identity systems, design philosophy, and creative processes, showcasing contemporary Scandinavian design’s significance and accessibility.
Essential Guide to Print Design: Tips for Success
The post provides an in-depth guide to planning, creating, and producing successful design projects for print. Sources and blog post widget included.
Packaging Design: Successful Product Branding From Concept to Shelf
“Packaging Design: Successful Product Branding From Concept to Shelf” is a comprehensive guide that explores effective packaging strategies, emphasizing design, sustainability, and real-world case studies for professionals and students.
New Packaging Design: Innovating Sustainability in the Modern World
“New Packaging Design” delves into the transformative role of packaging in the modern era, showcasing sustainable solutions and insights from visionary designers.
Yes Logo: 40 Years of Michael Peters Branding, Design and Communication (2008) Hardcover
“Yes Logo” by Michael Peters chronicles 40 years of design excellence and commercial success, offering insight into Peters’ influential legacy and inspiring future generations.
“HERBERT BAYER: Recent Works. Jan.-Feb. 1971” Exploring the Legacy
Herbert Bayer, a Bauhaus master, left a mark in modern art and design. “HERBERT BAYER: Recent Works” offers insights into his enduring legacy and creative process.
Discovering the Future of Packaging: “New Packaging Design” by Janice Kirkpatrick
“New Packaging Design” by Janice Kirkpatrick is a captivating exploration of packaging’s evolution, sustainability, and iconic designs, making it a must-have for designers and enthusiasts alike.
The Way Beyond Art: The Work of Herbert Bayer | Book
“The Way Beyond Art: The Work of Herbert Bayer” delves into the visionary Herbert Bayer’s impact on modern design, offering inspiration and insight. Available now.
Graphic Design: The New Basics by Ellen Lupton
“Graphic Design: The New Basics” by Ellen Lupton and Jennifer Cole Phillips redefines design education, offering visual demonstrations and modern insights, an indispensable resource for aspiring designers.
Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team, 4th Edition
“Designing Brand Identity” by Alina Wheeler is a comprehensive guide for brand development, featuring three pillars of branding wisdom and abundant resources for success.
Poster Man: Seymour Chwast’s Half-Century of Design Mastery
“Seymour Chwast’s ‘Poster Man: 50 Years of Iconic Graphic Design’ showcases over 140 posters, reflecting his influence on graphic design through political satire and thematic versatility.”
The Package Design Book a Tribute to an Art Form
Featuring a selection of hundreds of works, this book brings together Pentawards winners from 2008 to 2016, providing a vivid demonstration of creativity in every form of packaging.
Helvetica: Homage to a Typeface – Paperback
“Homage to a Typeface: Explore the iconic Helvetica through a beautifully crafted book showcasing 400 captivating examples, appealing to design enthusiasts of all levels.”
Poster Journeys Abram Games and London Transport
“Poster Journeys: Abram Games and London Transport” showcases Abram Games’ iconic poster designs, revealing his creative process and lasting impact on London Transport. A must-have for design enthusiasts.
Branding: In Five and a Half Steps – Paperback
“Branding: In Five and a Half Steps” by renowned brand consultant Michael Johnson provides a comprehensive step-by-step guide for creating successful brands, employing case studies and including practical templates.
Exploring Kazimir Malevich’s Suprematism and Cubo-Futurism
A facsimile edition of Kazimir Malevich, SUPREMATISM 34 Drawings, was published in 1990 by Artists Bookworks, accompanied by an introduction to the drawings by Patricia Railing;
Designing with Type, 5th Edition: The Essential Guide to Typography
The redesigned “Designing with Type” offers new content and a website for expanded resources, catering to both educators and design enthusiasts.
Thinking with Type, A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students
“Thinking with Type” is an essential guide for designers, writers, and students, providing fresh insights into typography, font design, global perspectives, and design principles.
Herbert Bayer: The Bauhaus Legacy | Hardcover
Herbert Bayer: The Bauhaus Legacy highlights Bayer’s significant influence on modern design, showcasing his integration of art, technology, and public communication across various disciplines.
Masters of Design: Logos & Identity
“Masters of Design: Logos & Identity” is a comprehensive guide profiling 20 renowned designers, offering real-world insights, a gallery of marks, and design principles in action.
The Packaging Designer’s Book of Patterns
“The Packaging Designer’s Book of Patterns, Fourth Edition” is a comprehensive, digital-access resource featuring over 600 customizable patterns, promoting precision, sustainability, and diverse applications.
Logos that Last: How to Create Iconic Visual Branding
Logos That Last is a book that shares the unique creative process of graphic designer Allan Peters, who has designed hundreds of logos for top brands and personal passion projects. It includes detailed case studies, tips for creating outstanding logos, strategies for extending logos into brand systems, and advice for turning passion into profession.
Beautiful Evidence – Learn how to Show and Present Data
Beautiful Evidence is a book that teaches how to show information clearly and effectively, suggests new designs, and provides analytical tools for judging credibility. It also moves away from pixel and paper flatlands and into the real world of three-dimensional space and time.
Sketching Type: A Guided Sketchbook for Creative Hand Lettering
“Sketching Type” is a guided sketchbook with over 50 exercises and prompts to improve hand-lettering skills, offering historical insights and a balance of guidance and freedom.
The Typography Idea Book: Inspiration from 50 Masters
“The Typography Idea Book” introduces typographic styles and practical techniques through iconic examples, aiming to inspire creativity and mastery in both novice and experienced typographers.
Graphic Design for the 21st Century: 100 of the World’s Best Graphic Designers
“Graphic Design for the 21st Century: 100 of the World’s Best Graphic Designers” showcases diverse, avant-garde graphic works, bridging history and future while inspiring creativity.
Managing Packaging Design for Sustainable Development: A Compass for Strategic Directions
“Managing Packaging Design for Sustainable Development: A Compass for Strategic Directions” is a pivotal guide for professionals, offering sustainable packaging solutions and strategic insights.
Exploring Herbert Bayer’s Bauhaus Legacy – Complete Works
Herbert Bayer, a key figure in the Bauhaus movement, revolutionized art with functionality and avant-garde style. “Herbert Bayer: The Complete Work” captures his enduring impact.
100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design: A Must-Read for Every Designer
“100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design” explores innovative concepts that have transformed design over the last century, providing inspiration and valuable insights for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Exploring Abram Games’ Propaganda Art Techniques
Abram Games: His Wartime Work
By Naomi Games
The ABC’s of Triangle, Square, Circle: The Bauhaus and Design Theory
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.
Design Is Storytelling: Crafting Visual Narratives with Ellen Lupton
Ellen Lupton’s “Design is Storytelling” emphasizes design’s narrative potential, urging designers to create emotionally resonant experiences that engage and captivate audiences beyond aesthetics alone.
Glyph: A Visual Exploration of Punctuation Marks and Other Typographic Symbols
“Glyph” by Adriana Caneva and Shiro Nishimoto explores the history and usage of punctuation marks in the Latin alphabet, appealing to linguists and design enthusiasts.
