Bruno Munari (1907–1998)

First published in Italy in 1956, Bruno Munari'sIn the Darkness of the Night tells the tale of an interconnected, intimate yet expansive journey across three settings--in the darkness, through a meadow, and into a mysterious cave--through a spellbinding combination of paper stocks, transparencies, cutouts, and simple but lively characters.

Bruno Munari was among the most inspirational designers of all time, described by Picasso as 'the new Leonardo'. Munari insisted that design be beautiful, functional and accessible, and this enlightening and highly entertaining book sets out his ideas about visual, graphic and industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use everyday. Lamps, road signs, typography, posters, children's books, advertising, cars and chairs - these are just some of the subjects to which he turns his show more illuminating gaze. show less

The "book" originated in 1969 as a gift (the first edition of 250 copies was never for sale). The theme of “faces” so dear to Munari here turns almost into a game played with the eyes and the different ways of seeing things: “…mix up drawings, change the colour of the eyes, help us to see things through other people’s eyes…”. Bruno Munari suggests how to use the 25 loose colored pages, all with eye holes.

This is a brilliant book. It is short and not an easy read. It is a book that does need to be read carefully, and picked up again from time to time.

Bruno clearly shows how design can be used as art, and he takes you through the initial design process, and then through applications and critiques with care.

The writing style is lucid, and clear.He also debunks many myths. What I like, is the complete lack of any pomposity in his writing, and the fact that through his book, I started to look at show more art and design with new eyes show less