Interview with Penquin Books designer David Pelham from 2007

Check out this 2007 Creative Review interview with designer David Pelham, art director for Penquin Books from 1972-1980. I bumbled across it looking up images and although it’s not spanking new like some quickstrike Susan Boyle dunks or anything, I wanted to pass it on to the artist and design heads out there. You are welcome to scroll quickly through the images of covers if you are fighting deadlines or ADD. Nice insight into the old days of paste-up and repro typesetting, etc. And amazing design. The story he tells about finishing the ‘Clockwork Orange’ cover at 4am Monday morning, just in time for a 5am motorcycle courier pick-up, sounds all too familiar.

Posted by Bill McMullen on June 11, 2009 at 03:16 AM

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2 Comments

The latest comment was posted 4 months, 2 weeks ago…

Chris Capuozzo wrote… Comment #1 posted on June 22, 2009 at 10:24 AM

Hi Bill

thanks for posting this-I left a comment over at CR but wanted to share with ya:

Had a very satisfying discovery/connection moment with this article. I’ve had David’s “Kites” book for years—discovered in a second hand store-picked it up based on its beauty. Bought it not knowing anything about Davids other work�which I now realize has been around me for years, too.

among others, the Paolozzi cover knocked me out…

Bill McMullen wrote… Comment #2 posted on July 06, 2009 at 08:22 AM

That ‘Kites’ book is nice, I’d like to have that. And a good second-hand copy is the move! I’ll keep my eyes open over at the Strand or maybe at Powell’s in Portland.

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