Taschen Publishing isn’t exactly a true “independent” publisher anymore. They’re a small player compared to the big dogs in New York, but they hold their own in their particular niche: Art and design. They are by far my favorite publisher of those types of books, regularly taking chances with limited edition print runs including the monolithic projects like GOAT.
All gushing aside, Taschen recently released a new design book, riding the popularity wave of Mad Men, featuring classic midcentury advertising design.
Gleaned from thousands of images, this companion set of books offers the best of American print advertising in the age of the “Big Idea.” At the height of American consumerism magazines were flooded with clever campaigns selling everything from girdles to guns. These optimistic indicators paint a fascinating picture of the colorful capitalism that dominated the spirit of the 1950s and 60s, as concerns about the Cold War gave way to the carefree booze-and-cigarettes Mad Men era. Also included is a wide range of significant advertising campaigns from both eras, giving insight into the zeitgeist of the period. Bursting with fresh, crisp colors, these ads have been digitally mastered to look as bright and new as the day they first hit newsstands.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. If you’re a fan of classic ads, you should too, or have a look around their store. It’s a Bacchanalian feast of visual delights.
Hi! I'm Dave and this site is about art, design and how to make it work for you. If you're an artist or a designer and you're looking for help getting your work to market, come along and we'll learn something new together.
