Obey the Giant, azaz Shepard Farey

In Obey the Giant, acclaimed design writer Rick Poynor exposes the ambivalent reality beneath the seductive surface of contemporary visual culture. Ranging across design, advertising, photography, publishing and art, these incisive, entertaining essays challenge received wisdom, dismiss sacred cows and pose challenging questions about key issues and trends – from graphic memes and the poverty of ‘cool’ to culture jamming, designer sex and death, and the pleasure of imperfection. An inspiring call to action, Obey the Giant shows how designers and image-makers both collude with, and resist, corporate control of the image world.

‘An articulate and poignant set of essays . . . Poynor is a sensitive, often brilliant writer on visual design in graphics, advertising and commercial visual culture.’ Art Monthly

‘So timely in its critique of global-market-driven design that it gives the sense of an alarm clock ringing anew after a self-indulgent culture pounded the snooze button.’ Eye

‘These articles are clearly the result of careful research, analysis, and contemplation, but a passionate current of outrage flows through them . . . A number of individual pieces analyse key design issues better than any I have read before.’ Print

‘A lucid analysis of the current situation . . . Poynor claims the right to a design criticism comparable to that of literature or film.’ Domus

‘A terrific book. Essential. After you’ve read it, you really can’t look at the world in the same way, which is also one definition of art.’ Douglas Coupland