american graphic design | the book cover & album cover | lustig & steinweiss

key terms:

alvin lustig

elaine lustig cohen
alex steinweiss

• mid-century (1950-70s) prosperity after war --> increasing roles for graphic designer

alvin lustig:
-didn't want to be limited by specialization
-tried everything art-related
-knew saul bass
-did book covers; a lot of variety
-signed work

lustig
rainbow/colorful= associated w west coast design

anatomy for interior designers- lustig
1948
organic flat shapes challenging grid

interested in biomorphic shapes

hired by
publishing house: new directions
publisher: james laughton

• lustig takes up interior & industrial design

• lustig's textile designs:

lustig's helicopter design

journal cover for "industrial design"
russian constructivism= bold shapes
photomontage

early girl scout handbook (before):

lustig's redesign of girl scout handbook (after):

lustig asked by josef albers to come teach at yale

realized he was losing his sight, married a designer elaine lusting
invited all his clients to cocktail party & informed them he was losing his sight
& said find different designers if they want but most clients stayed w him
he worked w his wife as a team to finish projects

alex steinweiss:

-"inventor" of album cover

-in america, color comes flooding in

-hired as art director for columbia (records)

album covers (before):

steinweiss' album covers (after):

biomorphic shapes

COMPARED TO:

photomontage
typography at different angles

retired & became a painter