Five years in the making, Pentagram: Living by Design (two volumes) is the definitive statement on fifty years of Pentagram, and an in-depth survey of the group from its beginnings in 1970s London to its current status as one of the powerhouses of international design.
Book one, The Biography, offers a comprehensive analysis of the group, its partners, its achievements, its multidisciplinary approach and its unique business model. This is accompanied by a plethora of images (some never published), a visual essay of Pentagram’s work across four main sectors, a selection of partners' writings, a Pentagram family tree, and much more.
Book two, The Directory, has profiles of fifty partners, past and present, accompanied by extensive coverage of their work. It’s a stellar roll call: from the five famous founders to some of the most celebrated names in contemporary design. It also includes a list of everyone who worked in the firm’s various offices.
Both books are designed by Tony Brook and the Spin design team.
Reviews
One of the Best Design Books of 2023… This two-volume box set includes both an analysis of the cooperative and their legacy on the design world and individual profiles of the 50+ partners who have been involved with Pentagram over the years. More than hagiography, this is a book that, in many ways, tells the story of graphic design’s evolution from niche service to cultural production, from specialist to multidisciplinary.
— Fast Company
Contributors
Adrian Shaughnessy
Author
Adrian Shaughnessy is a graphic designer, writer, and senior tutor at the Royal College of Art, London. He has written numerous books, including a compendium of his design journalism, Scratching the Surface, and monographs devoted to designers Herb Lubalin and Ken Garland. He regularly contributes to design publications and blogs such as Design Observer, Eye, Creative Review, and Design Week. In 1988, Shaughnessy cofounded design studio Intro; today he runs ShaughnessyWorks, a consultancy combining art direction, writing, editing, and lecturing, and is a codirector of Unit Editions. He is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale.
