Le graphisme : Penser le design graphique — un appel à la réflexion

Bruce Mau Design's 1999 recruitment ad in Toronto asked 41 questions testing visual culture, seeking designers who think and read. Mau's ties to intellectual circles are evident: he has art-directed Zone Books since 1985 and co-signed S, M, L, XL with Rem Koolhaas. His book Lifestyle documents his agency's work. In France, graphic design lacks discourse compared to Anglo-Saxon countries, hindering public understanding. French designers complain of clients' low visual literacy (e.g., Philippe Apeloig in Au cœur du mot), while authors decry designers' tyranny over layouts, as aired at a Louvre colloquium on art history publishing. The history of 20th-century graphic design is being written without France, due to few notable creators and critics. Mallarmé's 1898 ironic stance on illustration reflects a general indecision. To combat this, the article introduces a recurring column and a quiz. Answers include: 1. Heinz Edelmann; 2. The British Library; 3. Roger Tallon; 4. Galerie Anatome; 5. A reduced version of Signes de la jeune création graphique contemporaine; 6. Robert Massin; 7. Maeda@media by John Maeda; 8. 12th edition; 9. 5; 10. Musée de Grenoble; 11. 5 (1840-1940), 1 (after 1940: Grapus).