Below is the opening para from Stanley Morison's Book 'First Principles of Typography' written in 1936. It provides a key statement on the nature of invisible design, at least in Information Design.
"TYPOGRAPHY may be defined as the craft
of rightly disposing printing material in
accordance with specific purpose; of so
arranging the letters, distributing the space
and controlling the type as to aid to the
maximum the reader's comprehension of
the text. Typography is the efficient means
to an essentially utilitarian and only ac-
cidentally aesthetic end, for enjoyment of
patterns is rarely the reader's chief aim.
Therefore, any disposition of printing ma-
terial which, whatever the intention, has
the effect of coming between author and
reader is wrong."
Some Graphic Designers, such as Neville Brody, took a very different view.
David
--
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Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA
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On 09/08/2011, at 3:23 PM, Prof. Bernhard E. Buerdek wrote:
> Dear Jeffrey,
>
> at the opportunity of the Design, Architecture and Art Exhibition
>
> * "Forum Design Linz" (1980)
> *
> Lucius Burckhardt gave this statement, published in the catalogue at Vienna 1981.
>
> But it was one of the most miss-understood statement in the design of the late 20th century.
>
> Design is not invisble, but it makes visible.
>
> I have shown this in my contribution at the opportuniy of an exhibition remembering the
> Forum Design Linz 1980.:
>
> B.E.Bürdek
> Forum Design Linz – Einblicke und Ausblicke
> in: Hochleitner, Martin / Hofer, Gabriele (Hg.):
> Der Fall Forum Design. Index zu einem Kulturprojekt. Ausst.-
> Kat. Landesgalerie Linz am Oberösterreichischen Landes-museum, Linz 2009
>
> But unfortunately it is only in German.
>
> Yours
>
> B.E.B.___
>
>
>
>
>
> jeffrey chan wrote:
>> Dear all,
>> Recently as an english-speaking design scholar I stumbled upon Lucius Burckhardt's idea of 'Design is invisible' through J. Fezer's essay in the Civic City Cahier series. I suppose Burckhardt's ideas are however not a new discovery for many on this board. I have tried to find the little written in English on this idea but am not quite satisfied with the few references that I have found online. Will any of you be able to point me to an adequate work translating or dissecting Burckhardt's idea on the invisibility of design? Of course, I would fully and gladly appreciate your own interpretation, if you would like to offer me a short lesson on this. Very much appreciated and many thanks,
>> Jeff
>>
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