The first English publication of a famous 1972 debate between Dutch graphic designers Wim Crouwel and Jan van Toorn. A public clash of subjectivity versus objectivity, originally published in Dutch by [Z]OO producties in 2008.
The debate was held in response to an exhibition of Van Toorn’s work at the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum. Crouwel defended his approach of neutrality and austere rationalism, attention to typography and worksmanship, and professionalism in service of the client’s message. Van Toorn argued for his use of chaos, collage, and photographs of everyday life; that a designer’s ideas, personality, and political commitments are integral to the work.
Along with the transcript, this pocket-sized clothbound book contains a foreword by design critic Rick Poynor, and essays from Dutch design historian Frederike Huygen and curator Dingenus van de Vrie. A color gallery juxtaposes a representative selection from the oeuvres of Crouwel and Van Toorn.
Thursday, April 23, 2015 the first copy was presented to Wim Crouwel and Jan van Toorn. The presentation was organized by the Wim Crouwel Instituut, [Z]OO producties en the Bijzondere Collecties of the University of Amsterdam.
On this occasion, Richard Niessen was invited to have a dialogue with Frederike Huygen. The poster for The Polarised Parlour was designed to function as a conversation piece.