Hasta La Ideas

Penguin’s new series, Philosophy in Transit, features close-cropped shots of commuters by photographer Wolfgang Tillmans

The series is trailed by the publisher as “easily digestible, commute-length books of original philosophy”. The first four titles are written by John D Caputo, Barry Dainton,Slavoj Zizek and Susan Nieman. Each features a cover shot by Tillmans of travellers on the Tube.

The series was designed by Matthew Young, working with Penguin art director Jim Stoddart. “[Tillmans] did a very short series of photographs back in 2000 featuring people on the Tube, and these photos just felt like a perfect fit for these books,” Young says. “The idea of commuting is used as a metaphor throughout the books to explain philosophical ideas and concepts, plus they’re short A-format editions that are perfect for reading on your way to work, on the Tube perhaps.”

“Tillman’s photographs are really stylish, and feature quite close-up unusual crops. You can almost read whatever you want into them, and each reader will interpret the photographs differently … they’re the main focus, and the rest of the design is kept deliberately clean and minimal,” Young explains. The covers are set in Avenir “with a strong but balanced hierarchy that puts emphasis on the title and draws your eye to the subtitle, Philosophy in Transit.”

Buy the current print issue of CR, or subscribe, here

The July issue of Creative Review is a type special, with features on the Hamilton Wood Type Museum, the new Whitney identity and the resurgence of type-only design. Plus the Logo Lounge Trend Report, how Ideas Foundation is encouraging diversity in advertising and more.