The first major publication on the life and work of the famous mid-century American graphic designer, Rudolph de Harak (1924–2002), one of the most influential modern graphic designers of the 20th century. This beautifully produced, comprehensive monograph is the first and only major publication dedicated to this fascinating and important figure, providing an in-depth review of de Harak’s life and work.

From his early years in Los Angeles to his success as a designer and educator in New York, de Harak exhibited great inventiveness in everything he designed, from album covers to books, from furniture to exhibitions. His work was influenced by early modernist masters such as Will Burtin, György Kepes, Alvin Lustig, and Max Bill, as well as by the rigor, simplicity, and rationalism of the International Style, Abstract Expressionism, Op Art, and Pop Art.

Graphic design specialist Steven Heller notes, “Rudy de Harak is a powerful link between American and Swiss modernist thought. He was an example of minimalist form with conceptual content. A book on his life and work is both necessary and overdue.” It is organized chronologically into six chapters that cover de Harak’s life and career from 1924 to 2002, each supported by examples of the designers, architects, and art movements that influenced his work.

The publication “Rudolph de Harak Graphic Designer: Rational Simplicity” documents de Harak’s pioneering and prolific fifty-year career in graphic design, environmental and experience design, industrial design, furniture design, posters, books, and magazines for a wide range of clients, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cummins Engine Company, McGraw-Hill Publishers, and many others.

Pages: 408, Year of Publication: 0105, Dimensions: 21x21cm