Welcome to Baseline 60, our autumn issue. To coincide with the 60th issue of the magazine, we mounted an exhibition at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) to celebrate the 17-year collaboration with its students, graduates and staff. Images can be seen on the Baseline’s website and facebook site: www.facebook.com/baselinemagazine
    For the first book review in this issue we selected the Design series published by the Antique Collectors’ Club, designed by Webb and Webb. It is reviewed by Prof. Alan Powers. The second publication is TD 63–73 Total Design and its pioneering role in graphic design. The author is Ben Bos and it is published by Unit Editions. The review is by Prof. Ian McLaren.

Feature
Richard B. Doubleday, assistant professor at Boston University, discusses the publication Typographische Gestaltung from 1935. Jan Tchichold’s second book, more refined than his seven years earlier Neue Typographie, contextualizes authentic examples of asymmetric typographic design for practitioners in the graphic industry. Typographische Gestaltung was hugely influential throughout Europe in the 1930s. It took some 30 years before it was finally published by Copper & Beatty, Toronto and Faber & Faber, London, under the title Asymmetric Typography. The thorough translation into the English language was by Ruari McLean.
    David Jury’s historical article on Security printing highlights the problematic issues of printing valuable documents and banknotes during the 19th Century. Considering specific materials, integrating skilfully produced designs and introducing inimitable printing techniques was at the centre of the research undertaken by The Bank of England, a Royal Commission by the government and the Society of Arts.
    Matthew Carter is the one of the ‘geniuses’ in the type design industry. Well known for designing and producing proper print and screen fonts, the MacArthur Fellow and AIGA medallist sees himself as an ‘industrial designer’. This is the first of a number of articles that discusses Carter’s development as a type designer. The contents for this article is based on several conversations held between Carter and Margret Re, assistant professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, USA.
    Helmut Schmid, ‘typografischer Gestalter’ author and Baseline’s contributing editor in Japan, introduces the work of Fumio Tachibana. A letterpress artist and designer whose sensitive work is simple and straightforward. In his article Schmid draws parallels to the work of the Dutch printer, artist and typographer Hendrik Nicolaas Werkman.
    Geometrics – harmonious constructed compositions based on mathematics and the progression of sequences of numbers. Frank Guille’s designs show his elegant and functional approach. Some shapes have even a close resemblance of sans serif type components, reduced to their key modular units.

Opinion
Dr. Martin Bouette, subject leader MBA Creative Industries Management at UCA Rochester, is a frequent traveller to the Far East. His interesting observations and views with regards to ‘strange’ but influential Eastern visual culture are reflected in his timely opinion piece.

Education
Our Education Spectrum brings us to Falmouth University College, a british design college with an impressive reputation. Situated in the natural environment of Cornwall its students seem not to be too bothered by the latest style and fashion in visual communication, but are approaching design with intellectual and analytical rigour. Timothy Donaldson, senior lecturer at Falmouth interviewed its’s students and recent graduates.
    Also have a look at our new series of Baseline ‘Specials’ and our new Baseline workshops. More information in our advertising pages.

Hans Dieter Reichert

STOP PRESS!
Look out for our Baseline publication What’s cooking? Famous designers on food.
This book will be the first in a line-up of bound publications coming up in 2011/12.
You will find out what makes Steven Heller tick, Willi Kunz unwind, Paula Scher jumbled, Wim Crouwel eats in summer or winter and Alan Fletcher was served at a surprise party. A Baseline treat not to be missed.