The Book Jackets of Ismar David

Recently we had to design a typographic cover. We pulled out this book for inspiration and stole some ideas. Every single one was rejected by the publisher and in the end they picked the weakest, dumbest, flattest, most forgettable option. Selling books is much less maddening. . . . Anyway, this one rediscovers an important contribution to a popular field of graphic design and suggests that Ismar David’s calligraphic book jackets present a viable alternative to the current design approach. David belonged to a group of accomplished calligraphers who established themselves as jacket designers in New York in the 1950s—and his designs are distinguished from other work of the period as powerful and expressive. His style is informed by a thorough mastery of the typographic tradition yet looks remarkably fresh, even today. Of course, our client didn’t think so, but whatever.