Ladislav Sutnar : Visual Design in Action [1961 Exhibition Catalog]

Ladislav Sutnar : Visual Design in Action, exhibition catalog, 1961. AIGA, New York, USA. 6 x 12, pp. 12 plus stapled covers. Design by Ladislav Sutnar (1897–1976).

This major exhibition coincided with the publishing of Sutnar's 1961 landmark book, “Visual design in action—principles, purposes.” Ladislav Sutnar : visual design in action was a 1961 traveling exhibition organized by the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati with Champion Papers of Hamilton, Ohio.

The catalog includes a Preface “About the Exhibition“ and two texts by Sutnar: “Why is Good Design Needed?“ and “What is Good Design?” with text throughout related to Sutnar's early period of graphic design (1928-38) focusing on: new exhibition design and new product design. The catalog concludes with short texts “About the Work of Ladislav Sutnar“ by: Edward Gottschall, Karel Teige, Max Gottschalk, Mildred Constantine, Ann E. Ferebee and others. Illustrated with black and white images and beautifully designed and printed in black and red on glossy and vellum stock.

From the Preface: “The lack of discipline in our present day urban-industrial environment has produced a visual condition, characterized by clutter, confusion and chaos ... There is an urgent need for visual communication based upon precision and clarity. This is the area in which Ladislav Sutnar excels.“

A fine, uncirculated original 1961 stapled exhibition catalog designed by Sutnar.