Takenobu Igarashi: A to Z

Takenobu Igarashi is a master-mentor who taught me the ABCs of form (and life) John Maeda In the mid-1970s designer Takenobu Igarashi began a prolific, decade-long exploration into possibilities of three-dimensional typography. His first experiments with axonometric lettering appeared on magazine covers, posters, and record sleeves taking influence from the avant garde typography of the 1920s but rendered afresh as bold sculptural letterforms. Timeless, arresting, and technically dazzling, Igarashis signature style demonstrates a mastery of three-dimensional type and perspective draftsmanship, refined long before the introduction of computers into the design industry. A to Z offers an exhaustive guide to Igarashis experiments with typography, featuring not only his celebrated print and physical works many photographed specially for this publication but also a first look, using never before seen archival work, at the plans, drawings and production drafts behind his iconic works. Spanning early print works, hand-drawn experiments, self-initiated sculptural pieces, and highprofile 3D identities for a range of international clients and institutions, A to Z is a long overdue overview of one of the most revered but least celebrated graphic designers of the 20th century.