Fresh Dialogue 2: New Voices in Graphic Design

Each year, the New York chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) holds an evening of talks featuring emerging innovative designers. Fresh Dialogue 2: New Voices in Graphic Design reflects the batch who made their presentations on May 10, 2000. They included Kevin Lyons, One9ine partners Warren Corbitt and Matt Owens, and Susan Parr of ReVerb. This book re-creates the experience using transcripts of conversations with each and is illustrated with generous color images from their bodies of work.

Kevin Lyons's clients include Adidas, Nike, and Urban Outfitters, and his designs incorporate graffiti and rotoscoping-style techniques in textured, multilayered compositions. He casually and openly discusses his education (undergraduate studies in film at RISD, graduate work at CalArts), his work process ("My process is to wait until the last second and then go crazy..."), and appropriating street culture or hip-hop to make a design relevant. One9ine partners Corbitt and Owens discuss how being a relatively small studio makes them a good choice for small budgets, despite the fact that the rich designs they produce for such clients as the Cooper-Hewitt Museum and MOMA show no sign of limited funds. "Honestly, good things come from smart people working in a small group making smart decisions." And Parr and her ReVerb cofounders Somi Kim and Lisa Nugent discuss their process for creating branding solutions, whether for the retro-hip Avalon Hotel, Metrius, or Nike.

The dialogues don't address the clients and projects in great detail; this book isn't about how they arrived at specific designs. It's more about the overall process of starting a career, tapping into creative inspirations, and finding novel solutions. The voices are open and frank and fun. Reading Fresh Dialogue 2 is like dropping by three hip studios, checking out the work, and then relaxing in a coffee shop afterward for a friendly chat. --Angelynn Grant