I often wish I could tell my younger self something that would have helped me on my way in life – but it’s rare when you come across a message from the past to your older self.
That’s what happened when I came across a whole cache of diaries, address books and sketch pads in the attic recently. They dated from 1980-1988 (the year I left school to the year I left college). Some of those diaries were pretty boring I have to say – however, I did learn that I managed to see 70 live bands in 1980, I earned £36 a week working shifts at the Pied Bull pub in Streatham (c. 1985), that a student’s shopping for the week came to around £4.50 and a pint of beer cost 86p.
The main thing that caught my eye though, was the name of a book that got me through my course at the London College of Printing in those austere times. Scribbled in biro at the back of an old address book: “Penguin Dictionary of Visual Language – buy it!”
The memories of that book flooded back instantly. I had it checked out of the library almost constantly, not being able to afford the £12.95 to own it. A huge source of inspiration, it contained hundreds of visual cliches that sparked a young student into action and saved many of my projects. Now out of print, I managed to track down a copy on Amazon (for a lot less than the £100 that is being asked currently!).
Although it looks dated now (it is even printed in black and white throughout), the images still hold resonance and I would urge anyone, student or professional, to seek it out for their design bookshelf.
The idea is simple really – the book works just like a dictionary, but pulls together some of the best images with reference to the word/letter. A is for abacus, B is for building etc. The images date from the twenties to 1980 (when the book was published), and often draw on illustration or magazine covers for inspiration. There is a whole section devoted to women with moustaches bizarrely – but the authors manage to find enough examples to fill a spread. With examples from such giants of design as Tom Eckersley, Paul Rand, Jan Tschichold, George Lois and Saul Bass – this really is a feast for the eyes.
