An exceptional book that submits nature's shapes to humorous criticism by the designer.
Paperback, 32 pages, size 12 x 12cm

As Bruno Munari wrote in 1961, "The biggest hindrance to understanding a work of art is wanting to understand." And so he has written this diminutive book of theorems, this witty, sincere book of enlightening poems, for the struggling art viewer. To excerpt from individual poems written between 1945 and 1960: if leonardo's gioconda/had legs/she would leave art/and return to reality ... is the choice of subject important?/raphael's marriage of the virgin/art/john brown's marriage of the virgin/not art/art isn't the subject ... a hundred lovers can even understand realism/a million admirers/will reject concrete art/with all their might ... in italy art is supposed to be italian/in poland polish/in turkey turkish/and if a turk goes to paint in poland/what sort of art should he do?/and what if poland occupies turkey? ... ministers and dictators/noblemen/the bored rich/sportsmen/dissatisfied professionals/worldly galleries/obliging critics/welcoming newspapers/opening cocktails/lots of people/art no.

How do we see the world around us? "The Penguin on Design" series includes the works of creative thinkers whose writings on art, design and the media have changed our vision forever. Bruno Munari was among the most inspirational designers of all time, described by Picasso as 'the new Leonardo'. Munari insisted that design be beautiful, functional and accessible, and this enlightening and highly entertaining book sets out his ideas about visual, graphic and industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use everyday. Lamps, road signs, typography, posters, children's books, advertising, cars and chairs - these are just some of the subjects to which he turns his illuminating gaze.

La classica opera in cui un grande artista italiano, noto in tutto il mondo per l'estrosità e la leggerezza delle sue creazioni, ha demolito una volta per sempre il mito dell'artista-divo per sostituirlo con la figura del "designer". Attraverso una avvincente analisi di opere e di temi, condotta con disegni e immagini chiare e godibili, Munari fornisce una presentazione estremamente esauriente del design e delle sue diverse specializzazioni: visual design industrial design - graphic design - design di ricerca.

Tra i grandi libri di Munari, questo è quello che forse maggiormente rende felici i lettori per la leggerezza incantata con cui li porta a scoprire che saper progettare non è dote esclusiva e innata di pochi. C'è in ognuno di noi una creatività che Munari in queste pagine aiuta a sviluppare e a mettere in luce.