Wang Zhi-Hong’s thoughtfully designed book about Dutch modernism 

Date
1 March 2016

One of Taiwan-born graphic designer and art director Wang Zhi-Hong’s most recent projects sees him adopt a simple, minimal approach for this artfully designed book about modernism in the Netherlands during the 60s and 70s. We featured a selection of the designer’s pared-back work in 2014 and his work has developed since then but still retains a sense of precision and purpose. 

Titled Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975 the book is a hefty tome of Dutch design and branding and shows how certain design firms started dictating house styles to companies and institutions. Wang Zhi-Hong’s design is sympathetic to the wealth and breadth of material that sits within the book’s pages. Rather than overcomplicating it, the designer sets out the book like a thoughtfully composed, grid-like sketchbook, allowing the viewer to pore over the pages and absorb the detail. The simple block lettering adds to the neatness, but the public transport timetable that’s been doodled over on the cover adds a wonderful disorder to the book. 

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Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

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Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

Above

Wang Zhi-Hong: Droom van helderheid: Huisstijlen, ontwerpbureaus en modernisme in Nederland, 1960-1975

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About the Author

Rebecca Fulleylove

Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art, design and culture. She is also senior writer at Creative Review, having previously worked at Elephant, Google Arts & Culture, and It’s Nice That.

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