American Modernism

This is the first book to present a comprehensive survey of the Modernist style as it emerged in America in the periods from 1920 to 1960 in various media - advertising, information design, identity, magazine design, print, dimensional design and posters. It examines the great works which by the mid-century had defined American graphic design. Opening with a section devoted to the emergence of Modernism, the book covers the major historical influences, such as European avant-garde art movements, technology, geopolitical issues, popular culture, educational innovations (such as the Bauhaus), architecture, industrial design and photography. The body of the book then collects together the key works in a chronological order from the 1930s to 1950s. The final section shows the impact of and reactions to this Modernist influence as graphic styles matured into the 1960s and beyond. Each exemplar is accompanied by an extended caption detailing the designer, date, client, connection to relevant context and anecdotal.