12oz. Prophet has been the undisputed, premiere name in graf for the last 10 years. Their early issues are highly sought after, and were the first to introduce us to Barry McGee, Reas, Os Gemeos, Struggle Inc (who shared layout responsibilities) and...
expand review others. Then they switched the game with The Vapors (not affiliated with the skate magazine), which gave the official indicator that the scene had shifted towards bombing. After a couple years of hibernation, the 12oz. crew is back, this time reinventing the self-published book with this super-deluxe (an understatement) thing. I've never seen so many extra-levels of printing dexterity (budget was obviously not a factor). Almost every page is laced with special 5th color inks, stock changes, or special folds. It's quite ridiculous, the low-budget graf zine has officially been deaded. In addition to all the top notch bombing photography, there is a nice chunk of design and art here like exclusive layouts by longtime 12oz. collaborators Futura, Kaws, and Reas. Extras include a sticker sheet, die-cut stickers, access number for the exclusive site, and more. There's also some of the super-limited silver copies mixed in our shipment (they ship randomly). Highly recommended. -the mgmnt
This books offers a look at the entire career of skater slash designer slash artist Andy Howell. The book is presented in a very personal way, there's a good amount of text and the layout borrows styles of old skate zines...
expand review and skate mags. The story begins with his youth days in Virginia Beach, his early influences, and his rise to pro skater. These stories are illuminated by quotes, vintage photos, old skate products, and skate mag excerpts. If you grew up in the same period, this stuff is quite incredible. For the designers, the book really picks up with the chapter on New Deal skateboard company. Howell provided the visual direction for this super-influential company (recognized as one of the forces that shifted skate graphics to more of an urban direction). The book proceeds into a lengthy section on Howell's paintings. And just when you think it should end, you've only gone halfway through the book. The book gets deeper into Andy's drawings, early urban skating in nyc, starting new companies, and much more. This book is much more than a design book, it's more like an well illustrated manual on the DIY life. And if that's not enough, the book comes with 2 accompanying DVDs. Hardcover, over 300 pages. -the mgmnt
Great collection of work from SF grafitti legend turned gallery star Barry McGee. This book was published for his Things Are Getting Better Exhibit at the Museum Het Domein Sittard in the Netherlands and features plenty of his paintings, drawings, and photos....
expand review Not a lot of his early graf work as TWIST in here, but more of his later gallery work like his infamous hobo characters, Q-bert style cube patterns, collabos with friends (Paper Rad's dog drawings are awesome and Os Gemeos graf letters are just sick) plus plenty of interesting (and random!) personal photos. I actually got a chance to catch his huge show over at Deitch Projects a few years ago and was lucky enough to see the fine details of his work in person, but for those who can't catch a show, the bright color photos in this book are pretty damn good too. Softcover edition. -snackmaster
This book was made in conjunction with the massive art survey of the same name, currently showing in San Francisco's Yerba Buena center. If you caught Tokion's genre-defining "Disobedients" issue, Beautiful Losers is like a continuation of that thought line, the summation...
expand review of many years of gallery shows, art projects, and publications that have been related in spirit. It features just about every "big" name that is associated with that movement- Barry McGee, Chris Johanson, Mike Mills, Mark Gonzales, Tobin Yelland, Margaret Kilgallen, Spike Jonze, Espo, Geoff McFetridge, Kaws, Ed Templeton, Shepard Fairey, Harmony Korine, Phil Frost, Ryan McGinness, and many others. Yeah, that sounds like they're casting the net a bit wide, but this mass of information and artwork is presented in such a thoughtful manner that it comes together without a hitch. In addition to showcasing the artwork, the book consists of informative articles that give us the background on how this loosely related conglomeration of people and styles came to be. This consists of an impressive collection of images + stories that speak about the social scene, past gallery shows, collectives, and the influences of the preceding generation (things like Dogtown and skate photographer Craig Stacyk, and the early 80s NYC scene); thankfully devoid of art school interpretations of what it all "means." The result is the most comprehensive piece we've seen thus far, and if you're gonna buy one book in this genre all year, this should be it. Softcover, about 275 pages. -the mgmnt
Superbad entities of the 20 century: James Brown, Watergate, Dr.J, Nike , Blue Note Records. It's rare when two things in the world blend together more beautifully than the Blue Note Music and Reid Miles' design. This book documents over 200 of...
expand review the most influential Blue Note album covers. I can easily say Blue Note has the dopest body of album art of any label. The style has been bit so many times, coming across an original album is like finding an original sample to a hip-hop song. So as you flip through this, the style will hit you in familiar way even if you never seen it before, but when you walk out the door you'll wonder why today's shit is so weak. On top of that, the subject matter of the design is comparable with the premier jazz artists in their prime: Blakey, Byrd, Ornette, Miles, Donaldson, Grant Green, Herbie, Hubbard, Hutcherson, Andrew Hill, Blue, Mobley, Monk, Morgan, Powell, Pearson, Jimmy Smith... You'll see classics seen in mint for the first time and other impossible to find smaller run titles. It also serves as a Blue Note deluxe catalog with record numbers/title/artist/designer/photographer for each recording. For real this and graf taught me how to design without school. Do yourself a favor, shell out the 20 bucks and let a man breath. -the mgmnt
From the same people that brought you the royalty free camouflage book, comes this book of 100 wood grain jpegs. Could this be any more useful? Add instant warmth and depth to your designs with these photographic quality wood patterns. Images range...
expand review from light to dark stain in assorted grain patterns (from basic to wild). The book serves as the catalog and includes a CD-ROM with corresponding files. Recommended. -the mgmnt
This is the unofficial sequel to Josef Muller Brockmann's Grid Systems. In Grid Systems, Brockmann explained the basic characteristics and usage of the grid. Hans Rudolf Bosshard takes it a complex step forward and breaks it down even further, going into ideas...
expand review of maximizing and breaking the grid. Although this is somewhat advanced material, Bosshard does a good job of clarifying ideas, first by showing line drawings of complex grids and then the actual examples the grids were drawn from. Bosshard dissects some of the most famous pieces of design, including the work of Swiss design legend Max Bill. He even has a section breaking down this very book. It's the most advanced design book I've seen. Although the writing can be too abstract at times (mathematical formulas are ocassionally introduced), you can learn more than you know by just looking at the images. Needless to say, the book design itself is bulletproof. The beautiful landscape format serves as a foil to Brockmann's portrait layout and "The Typographic Grid" again serves as the ultimate example. 200 pages. Recommended. -the mgmnt
The music graphics book was born in the mid-nineties and died in early 2000 with over-saturation and lowered standards as a cause of death. Enough water has passed and people have learned from their mistakes. This is an excellent reintroduction to...
expand review the modern music graphics book. It's executed near perfectly with relevent examples (many records we've had at the Lab, but even more that we haven't), clean design, and Japanese-style attention to mega-detail (it's organized by designer, painstakingly documented, and each designer has an interview). It is so effective that the book creates an illusion that these are classic record covers from 10 years ago, when they really are from yesterday. Softcover, 318 pages, 7.5" x 9.5" x .75". Recommended.
-the mgmnt
Every year it seems like there's a new sneaker book that blows previous efforts out of the water, and this one is the latest, put together by the people behind cult favorite website Crooked Tongues (Unorthodox Styles). It features 11 major sneaker...
expand review companies (Adidas, Conarkiverse, Fila, New Balance, Nike, Onitsuka Tiger, Pony, Pro-Keds, Puma, Reebok, & Vans), breaking each down by their most influential designs & models- with plenty of pictures, historical facts and minute collector's knowledge. As opposed to some of the more flashy & anecdotal sneaker books, this one has a rather serious, encyclopedic air and features many relatively new shoes as well as the deadstock joints. Both qualities are very welcome. Also features mini-spotlights on BAPE, Diadora, Ewings, K-Swiss, Lacoste, Saucony, Tretorn and Troop. Over 250 pages, full color, with a cover made from the same material as those plastic puffy stickers from grade school. Recommended. -the mgmnt
Bruised Fruit was a Lab favorite combining a crazy illustration style with witty, candid insight (via writing and anecdotes). This is this second book, published by Giant Robot, presented in full blast black and white which suits Choe's blackbook style work. You...
expand review find yourself immersed in Choe's intelligent world of daydreams, sex, and growing up cool. A perfect supplement for days when you got nothing to do, smoke rizzlas, and down a couple glasses of Fat Bastard Chiraz. Approximately 50-60 pages. -mgmnt
The folks at Ego Trip have really outdone themselves this time. Setting out on an unprecedented course to tackle the racial makeup (and subsequent racism) that is America. They've created a monster that is extremely offensive, illuminating, deeply researched, and funny as...
expand review hell. They use the same format that made the Book of Rap Lists so great- the massive amount of info, articles and topics are divided into digestible sections, then further broken down into their genius lists. A sampling: 10 racial rumors worth talking about, the sports racism hall of fame, Chin check: a US phone book suvey, the true race adventures of the Rolling Stones, top 10 whites (according to blacks) + top 10 blacks (according to whites) and so so much more. Design is handled by Brent Rollins of course, with an extra help-out of hilarity from Reas. Just buy it, mongrel. -the mgmnt
Here it is! Best reason to buy this book: find out what the hell Q-Tip is saying for the hook of Electric Relaxation. "Relax yourself girl, piece of clam? feels so grand? crease of spam?" Plus the secrets of 7 other "Notoriously...
expand review Unintelligable Lyrics". This is a seriously impressive work here, clocking in at over 350 pages strong with more information than you could ever possibly digest. It's divided into sections like Beef, Cheddar, Names, Lyrics, DJ's and list names like 25 Deadly DJ Cuts, Hip Hop's Greatest Two-Sided Singles, 10 Songs Marley Marl Wishes He Produced, Leave My Jheri Curl Alone, Go See the Dentist, The Essential Likwit Tit-ography, Kool Kieth's Favorite Paces to Pleasure Himself in Public, People Ricky Powell Wishes He Could Have Gotten Zooted With, and Afrika Bambaataa's Blues and Soul List (25 Most Important Old School Breaks). It goes on and on like popcorn. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, you won't put it down. -the mgmnt
This is the newest edition featuring 1)new hardcover and 2)square format. One of the most beautifully designed books just got better. Typographie has been one of the most authoritative typography manuals since its introduction in 1967. The preface is written by Adrian...
expand review Frutiger, designer of the foundational namesake font. Another beautiful book that simply demonstrates all levels of type usage from classical to experimental treatments. The standardized grid format consistently gets worked by Emil Ruder, demonstrating type style decades ahead of its time. The writing is limited to captions and is always clear, concise, and short for those with short attention spans like me. Sections include: Writing and Printing, Function and Form, Form and Counter-Form, Techniques of Typography, Arrangements, Geometric/Optical/Organic aspects. Proportions, Contrasts, Shades of Grey, Unity of Text and Form, Rhythm, Spontaneity, and Fortuity, Integral Design, Variations, Kinetics, and Lettering and Illustration. 220 pages. Never dated. -the mgmnt
Let me get this out of the way first: Lab Recommended. This book blew away even my expectations. Most people identify Herman Miller as a slick furniture company, but this book presents the company as a design powerhouse with a highly influential...
expand review design history (what else would you expect with George Nelson and the Eames behind the scenes?). After flipping through this book, you'll see why design types go crazy collecting Herman Miller catalogs, posters, and random paraphernalia. This book is quite comprehensive in cataloging the company's assets with separate chapters for advertisements, catalogs, drawings, posters, panels, and miscellaneous. In addition, the writing is spot-on with an insightful company history and informative captions. 200 pages, hardcover. -the mgmnt
Huge score for the cut and paste designer. Using in 19th century / late 20th century illustrations and ornamentation has been a design staple for the last couple years. Nobody has those type of illustration skills these days, and it adds an...
expand review instant touch of class to your designs. This book is filled with the stuff (flags, animal drawings, banners, crests, shields, tons of fillagree) and it's as easy as scan-bitmap-use. The work here is top-shelf stuff taken from original books from 1913 and 1894, and super-tasteful. Another secret design weapon uncovered by the Lab. 128 pages, measures 9" x 6". -the mgmnt
It keeps getting deeper for the graphic nerdus. This might be the ultimate book for the nerdus, as it is the first of its kind (to the best of my knowledge) and rather groundbreaking. It's basically an encyclopedia of people, places and...
expand review things related to graphic design. There's everything you'd expect in here like famous designers, firms, books, logos, terms, etc.; but it's incredible how deep they get. You'll find specific entries on Braun amplifiers, New Order's Power Corruption & Lies album cover, Prada firewood, Late Eighties Acid House, Dischords Records, the 1984 World Series, and countless other entries of random relations. Incredible. What makes it colorful is that in addition to a straight definition or description, many entries have supplemental quotes from other designers describing the entry's significance. Read a page a day, and get edumacated. Highly recommended. -the mgmnt
This is special edition book printed up for a recent Josef Muller-Brockmann show in Dublin, Ireland (yes, we imported these from Ireland!). The show was entitled "Forty-Eight Posters" and each of the 48 posters are presented here in this beautifully designed book....
expand review The hardcover is quietly stunning, featuring an embossed impression of one of Brockmann's most famous graphics. The interior resembles the Pioneer of Graphic Design book, with full color images on the right side, and when applicable, the production drawing on the left. The final touches are several pieces written by notable designers about Brockmann's immense influence. In addition, the "Pioneer" book is now out of print, making this even more essential. Approximately 120 pages, measures 6" x 8.75". Recommended. -the mgmnt
For those who picked up "Josef Muller Brockmann: Pioneer in Swiss Graphic Design," here is the science behind it. Like no other book of its time, "Grid Systems" breaks down the grid with almost scientifical efficiency. If you are a graphic designer,...
expand review industrial designer, 3d designer, or a designer in study, this is essential. Brockmann goes into detail about typeface usage, development of the grid, placement within the grid, 3 dimensional grid design and visual examples for everything. As the final piece to the puzzle, "Grid Systems" itself works as a supreme example of Brockmann's teachings, and the many examples that he provides are bling to my eyes. This is the type of book that goes beyond the writing (I don't think I even read the whole thing), it's like a perfect piece of design that happens to be one of the most authoritative visual communication manuals. I feel the power when I hold this book. Recommended. -the mgmnt
Wow. Faithful reprint of the 1971 Josef-Muller Brockmann classic. Much like his survey-style History of Visual Communications, History of the Poster presents itself like an opinionated guide through the nineteenth century to the late seventies. JMB selects the finest examples of poster...
expand review design from this time period and arranges them into categories: illustrative, object-informative, constructive, experimental, and series. Each division begins with an informative essay written in JMB's authoritative style, and clearly identifies essential design concepts. With hundreds of color examples spread out over 244 pages of JMB grid design, this is like no panties and jeans (so necessary). Soft-cover, heavy coated stock. Recommended. -mgmnt
If chapter titles like "Sans Serif as the expression of our age" interest you, this book is for you (Zoltan!). No, for real, this is another phenomenal Josef Muller Brockmann book. Penned and compiled by Brockmann himself, it is a cross between...
expand review his History of Visual Communication book and the monograph Pioneer of Swiss Graphic design. He organizes his work and notable works of others into categories, and then writes short design theories (ie Uniformity in Advertising), based on the groupings. He'll break for indepth analysis on certain categories including the very informative chapter entitled "Science and Visual Communication." The last chapter is an actual lesson from the master himself entitled "A Training System for the Graphic Designer." This book does double duty also as a classic Swiss visual look book with hundreds of images, layouts, logo examples, and more, all placed in Brockmann's impeccable grid design. 200 pages, 1 chapter in color. Recommended. -mgmnt
For those who picked up Karel Martens Printed Matter book (a Lab bestseller), Counterprint is an excellent companion piece. This limited edition book focuses on Martens' personal print work. Using metal plates and various found objects, Martens created these prints for leisure,...
expand review giving away most of them as gifts, and keeping them separate from his graphic design work. The works bring to light the visually pleasing and thoughtful intersection of design and art. And like Printed Matter, Counterprint is presented as an art-piece itself with fold-bound pages and beautiful printing on matte stock. This is the art book for designers who don't really like art. Approximately 30 pages, edition of 2000. -mgmnt
Can you ever have enough Brockmann books? No. Phaidon presents their tribute to the grid master with the largest and most comprehensive JMB book to date. The inner-jacket claims this book to be "most definitive JMB monograph," and it's hard to argue...
expand review against it. I personally own most every JMB title printed in the last 10 years, and I can tell you that this book features a large amount of exclusive material. Whereas most books spotlight his signature poster work, this book tells the entire story of the man, starting from his teens, continuing through his early formative professional days, and ending with his later corporate work. What is most interesting is that the book presents his early drawings, paintings, and designs, and attempts to decipher his influences. Did you know that JMB was a skilled illustrator and painter? A stage designer? Had a Picasso-influenced period? Designed a typeface for a typewriter? Even if you own every JMB book, this book will spark your imagination as much as the first time you saw one of his posters. His progression is fascinating, as his body of work represents a movement from the complex and painterly to the simple and mathematic (think about that for a second). 275 pages, hardcover. Measures 10" x 12" x 1.25". Highly recommended. -mgmnt
Kevin Lyons is a true behind-the-scenes pioneer of the DIY design game and has had immeasurable influence on the independent music and clothing worlds. This retrospective book of over 500 t-shirt designs is much more than graphics printed on cotton. You really...
expand review get to relive past micro-eras (acid jazz, golden-age hip-hop, the skating boom, the early days of streetwear), and understand how key Lyons was in pushing them along. This guy did the Giant Step logo for crissakes (not to mention directing Stussy and Fourstar, and producing graphics for Supreme, aNYthing, Huf and Ssur)! As a designer, I am in awe of the work here, flipping pages and thinking "he did that too?" (Denver Broncos logo? Check.) The book design itself kicks ass too with cotton cloth bound cover, folded pages, and a fake library card in the back. Over 200 pages, recommended. -the mgmnt
This should win an award for the hippest coffee table fodder ever. Welcome to Lastnightsparty.com – the dude's name is Merlin Bronques, and you might have seen him while gettin' trashed in Manhattan, ushering hotties into his favorite sultry scenery (the...
expand review bathroom or up a against a wall). Often called "The Black Andy Warhol," dude can be easily spotted by his fashion prowess, dark demeanor and obviously his camera. It's no wonder that he's rising as NY's hip shutterbug. Just check the infamous website to blow up your computer screen with eye poking photos of hot exhibitionists giving their all, famous folk, half naked hipsters, the occasional douche and/or passed out chick. The book is a VIP pass to all his hottest material, letting no celeb or promiscuous moment pass. Flipping through it is almost like browsing porn while playing the Trivial Pursuit pop culture edition. Every other page is like: "Nice ass… oh, there's Jay-Z... nice gabos… isn't that Juliette Lewis?" Not to mention every shot is perfectly off the cuff and beautifully taken. The vision here is people, and this guy is definitely dedicated. I read that he takes about 300 photos a day. Have you ever done anything 300 times in a day? Didn't think so. An impressive 176 pages of flesh and madness in full color. -C'mish
This is the most comprehensive book on the work of Margaret Kilgallen I've ever seen though it is actually the catalog for the 2005 show at the REDCAT gallery. The prolific California-based artist passed away in 2001, but left behind a plethora...
expand review of works that are a tribute to the dying hand made crafts of the past (in particular: hand painted signage, folk art, letter press print, and hobo train writers). Her art has inspired dozens of fellow artists (including husband and collaborator Barry McGee) with it's modern folk feel and hand-drawn aesthetic, which has now been coined as "New Folk" or "Urban Rustic." This handsome hardcover book features over 200 pages with brilliant, full color photos of hundreds of her paintings, sketches, and drawings. There are also amazing photos of her murals and installations as well as essays and an interview from which you can truly get the scope of her work and where she was coming from. Take a break from the crazy high-tech world we live in and delve into Margaret's world with this book. Highly Recommended. -Caliboy
No matter what phase I seem to be going through at the time, one thing that consistently brings me joy is the feeling of being in a really good junk shop. This is the feeling this book recalls, but instead of a...
expand review really good junk shop, think the best junk shop in the world. The author, Mark Dion, created this mock-department in the Manchester Museum and "documents his encounters with the Museum's neglected drawers and overlooked recesses that are home to redundant labels, orphaned mounts, defunct teaching models, botanical freaks, Egyptian fakes and the minutiae that have fallen through the cracks of museum practice and lain abandoned." The books is full of the best kind of surrealism, not the forced I'll put a melting clock by an eyelash one, rather, the naturally occurring, incidental kind. The book is rich with the most random photographs featuring objects and scenes that demand further investigation. This book is fucking awesome with superior, quirky book design to match. Hardcover, 128 pages. Recommended. -the mgmnt
The most anticipated release in fixed-track bike scene... probably ever. The Mash crew has been screening their film all over the world now, strategically building up to the release of this book + DVD set. The film captures the San Francisco's fixed...
expand review scene much like a skate video. It's candidly details the people, tricks, environment, and culture. The book portion features high quality photography to go along with the moving visuals, featuring creative direction by Benny Gold (of Huf fame). This is definitely the start of something big. Hardcover book, over 100 pages. 60 minute DVD. -the mgmnt
At one of my advertising jobs, I'd walk by this design shop daily. And everyday this book would be staring me down in the window. I wanted it so bad, but the $100+ price tag kept me away. Now that it is...
expand review finally in my possession, I know it is well worth it. Max Bill is one of the most important graphic designers in the history of modern design, but the strange thing is that most people don't know this (maybe if the book was cheaper). Bill came to be known for his sculpture, painting and prints he did later in his career; but as this book shows, his graphic design work was his real stamp in life. With firm roots in the Swiss Bauhaus movement, Bill exceeded in all forms of design. Book design, logos, advertising, installations, his dynamism helped to define the modern designer. As you flip through the hundreds of examples, you will marvel at: the mesh between his architectural and painterly qualities, the fiery advertising design, and the mastery of the grid. Half of the book features visual examples with accompanying text, while the other half is strictly
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