Graphic Wit

"In Graphic Wit, the first book offering a comprehensive survey of humor in graphic design, Heller and Anderson focus on that special instinct for playfulness inherent in all design, and show the many forms it can take in a skilled graphic artist's hands. Loaded with examples of successful design humor in such varied forms as book and record jackets, logos, posters, typography, and advertising, Graphic Wit examines the approaches designers can use for comic effect, including repetition, alteration of scale, and juxtaposition, as well as such specific mechanisms as visual puns, parody, nostalgia, wordplay, and typeplay. Case studies of successful ad campaigns reveal how humor can be used for maximum effectiveness and memorability, and in-depth interviews with 14 design luminaries, including Paul Rand, Paula Scher, and Stephen Doyle, provide insight into the play principle, making humor pay off financially, and the challenges involved in humorous design."--back cover.