Blog Post 4

This reading was particularly interesting to me because it discussed the purpose of art directors, just like we did last class, even using the same example from Bazaar where the articles were written using the same sort of contours as the pictures that were printed on the opposite page. This topic is fascinating, especially in how it is introduced in the text. Hollis writes that "Americans looked to Europe for modern culture and sophistication" (Hollis, 97). This then leads into a discussion of the Germany-based designer Mehemed Fehmy Agha, and how his talents were brought from the German edition of Vogue to the American edition. By hiring an international designer to be the art director lead to what is described as a "French Chic" and "German experience" in the Agha-directed issues of vogue. The innovations he was able to accomplish for vogue, as well as Vanity Fair, such as the use of cacophonous photos printed across double page spreads, such as the one seen below, demonstrates the need for diversity in teams dedicated to creative work.
Image result for vanity fair double page 1936 MF Agha"
Agha, M. F.  (1936) "The magical, twirling Hartmans", Double Page Magazine spread. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/249879479304182515/ on 2/3/20.

This image, from Colors magazine, is a design that branches off even further than allowing photos to bleed off the page, which is done in the previous example. It presents a composition which is purely textural and seems to go on forever, only allowing us to see just a slice of it on a two-page spread in full color. The only content on the page is the title of the magazine company, allowing the image to be a complete statement independent of any verbal anchors. This is an incredibly bold choice made by the art director, and this kind of unpredictable style is something I loved about flipping through the colors magazine. This also kind of plays into the idea that is explored in the reading of creating a statement through a photographic concept rather than by assembling design elements on a page.

Image result for United Colors magazine"

United Colors of Benetton. Unable to find a date or name. Retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/863917140999549665/ on 2/3/20

This technique of double page printing of photographs is also used by Brodovitch, in the book "Observiations", which is a sort of compilation of celebrity photographs taken by Richard Avedon (Hollis, 117). 


Avedon, R. (1959) "Observations" photobook. Retrieved from https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1959-richard-avedon-alexey-brodovitch-1849835970
on 2/3/20.

Comments

  1. Ashton ColaireFebruary 5, 2020 at 12:30 AM

    As much as it may seem wildy interesting for some people, collaborating with people from all parts of the world is very important for things like design. It's pretty obvious that people from other places are going to have a different outlook on things than you do. They're going to have a different set of values, morals, cultures - everything under the sun. So when you consider all of these when collaborating for a design, your result will be a good mix of all of the different cultural influences on one page.

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