byJenny Oldaker
MID-CENTURY TYPEDavid Jury
Why has mid 20th-century typography remained so influential? This is just one of the questions addressed by this wide-ranging and visually arresting book. Not only does it explore the work of innovative typographers of the time (and the genesis of their enduring fonts such as Helvetica, Franklin Gothic and Univers), it also dives into the world of mid-century advertising, with a host of iconic campaigns, and the impact of type design on each one. There’s even a foray into transport, with anecdotes about the development of public transport and road signage, and a look at the role of typographic design in film and television, from promotional posters to title sequences. Jury is hugely knowledgeable and his enthusiasm for the subject matter is infectious, whether he’s sharing tales of the pioneers of corporate identity or recounting the creative and commercial rivalries of the century’s design heavyweights.
£40, Merrell
100 20TH-CENTURY SHOPSThe Twentieth Century Society
This sumptuous celebration of the UK’s shopping scene throughout the 20th century is a must for anyone with an interest in modern architecture. With lavish colour photography and succinct but informative depictions of 100 architecturally significant shops, department stores and shopping centres, it’s a joyful whistle-stop tour of the places that shaped Britain’s shopping habits during the last century. The chronological arrangement of chapters gives an immediate sense of the evolution of the high street over recent decades, taking in a diverse range of architectural styles along the way, from Art Deco to Brutalist. The book is interspersed with essays on different aspects of the architectural ret
