books, identity, design, the great ones
World Of Logotypes, by Al Cooper
In spite of the plethora of logo books nowadays, good ones are but a handful (there’s a paucity - smallness of number, quantity - of good design books, contrary to what Amazon would let you think). Al Cooper’s World of Logotypes is one of these, first published in 1976, then several years later, now unfortunately out of print (still available here and there, if you’re lucky). It seems that it had 2 or 3 volumes.
The logos are all in black and white, most of them have been replaced or redesigned since then, some just “passed away” together with the corresponding companies. Some of them are easily dated, but most are ageless, strong, showing that those years’ designers where thinking more about what a good logotype is. Not to mention that the majority are designed by grid, something less and less used now in the age of online photo and vector editing software. The book proves once more that good logos don’t need no “web 2.0″ effects. It seems that with the easiness of Photoshop and Illustrator comes great responsability (glows and shadows weren’t exactly easy to ink on the drawing board), or tempting the path to the web 2.0 flashy design it is, as wise Yoda would say :P
Eric Carl kindfully scanned the book (not sure which volume this is or even if it’s the whole book) and posted it on his Flickr. The guys at Logoblink helpfully made a pdf. You’ve got to download it (you can find other mirrors on Logoblink’s site).
Here are some images as appetizer:
21 Mar 2008 Iancu
Gracias! :D
Excelenta!
You’re welcome (but only if you write in english :P).
That was written in Spanish actually, I think :P
Ok then, say thank you in as many languages as you know, either is welcome :P
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I want to thank you for your wonderful article on my father, Al Cooper. There were acturally 3 in the series with a fourth book almost completed at the time of dad’s death. Unfortunately, the last book was never completed and the pages disappeared over the years.
Copies of the World of Logotypes can be found in the Archives Library in Ottawa, Canada. As well, my father’s early comic books (aka The Canadian Black and Whites) created during the WW2 are also housed in the archives.
Sincerely yours,
Karen S. Cooper
Wonderful things happen.
Thank you Karen (I guess Mrs. Cooper would be in order, but I’ll dare be less formal, just like the internet is :) ), I am very glad you liked my modest and short “review” of your father’s book :) Messages like yours are the ones that make blogging such a wonderful experience.
I regret books like your father’s aren’t reprinted these days, young designers are so mislead by follow-the-trend books (Los Logos, Logolounge are the first that come to mind). Only Michael Evamy managed to do a superb job with his recent LOGO book.
Thank you again for the nice thoughts and for the small insight into your father’s work.
Best wishes,
iancu.
I agree, Kit, great things do happen and internet is one of the greatest achievements. Can be used for good and bad alike, just like everything we’ve created :)
Hi Iancu,
Got your message and thank you for the link and your return comment. My mother, Mrs. Gert Cooper, sends her regards and also thanks you.
Best regards,
Karen Cooper-Brown (aka Mrs. Brown nee Cooper)