do 'ave a dubonnet

I'm beginning to wish that I hadn't started this French week thing. You see, just like the Dutch week I did a while back, I've been doing some web searching to find some really stunning French graphic design. Of course, I could have told you about Pierre di Sciullo, but I've done that before (and sorry that it's one of those posts where Typepad managed to lose all of my images). But, apart from Pierre, I'm really struggling to find something that makes me say "I wish I'd done that".

And so I cast my mind back, because buried deep in my visual subconscious is the Dubonnet man.

And, no, not because I like Dubonnet: I can't stand the stuff. But because of its astounding simplicity and memorability. In fact, it was probably the very image that set me on the course of becoming a graphic designer.

But who's it by?, I hear you ask. The great Adolphe Mouron Cassandre. And just look at some of his other stuff:

Wonderful, aren't they?

His official French web site is here. And The Art Directors club biography is here.

And this may be where I need to draw French week to a close. The next couple of days I have to be away working on site, so I'm not going to have much time (if any at all) for blogging. But mostly, I think, because the French won't be able top this.

Or will they?

Comments

[Richard]

Better food and wine than us but at least we're better designers. The only Frenchy I can think of is Roger Excoffon:

http://www.itcfonts.com/Ulc/OtherArticles/Excoffon.htm

and m/m of course.

[davidthedesigner]

For a minute there, Richard, you had me thinking you were a Frenchie come to sort me out. As clever as m/m's stuff is, I'm not inclined to think that I wished I'd done it (I'd have been happy enough to have been in Paris, though).

[Loïc]

If you like Cassandre, you should check the amazing posters by Raymond Savignac or Bernard Villemot. Jean Widmer is also responsible for an amazing series of poster and graphic design in the '70s.
Pierre Faucheux and his studio where pionneers in books design after WW2, pushing the enveloppe for popular publishers.
Etienne Robial, coming from the books design in the '80s, managed to blow everyone's mind with TV channels designs.
Of course Roger Tallon is the ultra-modernist king, working for the print design as for the industrial design.
And, Claude Garamond is every day in your mind I guess ; ).
But… I have to admit that if these guy's work is familiar to many of french eyes, it is very hard to find any website or gallery dedicated to their carreers. Even more in english language.
Maybe I should do a special post in my blog for the curious ones among you. Or does this project deserve a real website?
Of course they all do have a page in the french wikipedia, but it doesn't seem to be enough.
Unfortunately we here in France don't have any "industry/government body which promotes (French) design internationally" or if we do, well, maybe not loud enough.

[Loïc]

And, er… yes Richard, you are better designers.

[Anne]

I like Lefor Openo http://lefor.openo.free.fr/, though they might be a bit cute for you. And second Loic's suggestion of Raymond Savignac. Lovely stuff.

[Vicki Brown]

I think you just found yourself a project Loic...!

[Richard]

No offence Loïc; I shouldn't generalise so much. But we can't all be good at everything, and you lot get to eat those crunchy little birds in Armagnac. Yum!

And those pastries...