Design Standards Manuals: Their Meaning and Use for Federal Designers by Bruce Blackburn, 1977

Design Standards Manuals: Their meaning and use for federal designers by Bruce Blackburn, October 1977. Federal Design Library, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, D.C. 6 x 9.125, pp. 44 plus covers. U.S. Government Printing Office. “Good design saves time and money and enhances communication and understanding. And that is what a graphic standards manual helps to do. It is based on considerable research, analysis, surveying, interviewing, and validating—to tailor a visual communication system to an agency’s unique needs. It is also a “living” document that should be subject to change as conditions warrant.” The Federal Design Library was a series presenting information and ideas related to federal design. Later volumes published were Grids: Their meaning and use for federal designers by Massimo Vignelli (1978) and Photography for Graphic Designers by Norman Sanders (1979). This compact, practical booklet is based on a presentation made at the Second Studio Seminar* for Federal Graphic Designers, held at the Illinois Institute of Technology, November 9, 1976. Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the 1972 Federal Design Improvement Program, developed by NEA Chair Nancy Hanks. A high point for American Graphics Standards Manuals in government. *The seminars gave federal designers the opportunity to keep abreast of the latest techniques and methods in design and communication, to solve problems, and to exchange ideas. Participants included designers and their supervisors, photographers, illustrators, typographers, editors. and printing offices. Excellent content featuring a short text About Graphics Standards Manuals; About the Author (Bruce Blackburn); and Three Presentations covering: What a Design Manual Is: Their Meaning and Use for Federal Designers; the American Revolution Bicentennial Symbol 1776-1976; and the NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Graphics Standards Manual (designed by [Richard] Danne & Blackburn) followed by a short (12) Questions and Answers with Blackburn about the project. Illustrated throughout with more than (50) black and white thumbnail images. Increasingly hard to find. A very good slim, softcover perfect bound booklet with an old college bookstore retail sticker on the front cover lower corner. A faded spine and front cover, small chip to the back cover top edge and light wear, mostly to the cover corners. Highly recommended!