Receive a New Year's card from the Royal Family of Jordan last year? No? Perhaps you recently opened a bottle of Dom Perignon, or read a copy of the U.K.'s Times newspaper, or saw the Johnny Depp film "Public Enemies"?
If so, then you have been exposed to the work of one of the most important graphic designers of our time, Neville Brody. And if not, then you have a chance to rectify the situation this month, by getting along to the Briton's solo exhibition at Ginza Graphic Gallery, in the upmarket Tokyo district.
Brody swept to fame in the 1980s for his bold designs for The Face magazine (a 1983 cover featured a photo of New Order's Stephen Morris — cropped to show only the musician's right eye and fringe) and album covers (Cabaret Voltaire's "Don't Argue," from 1987, has just its title superimposed on a red cross).
But don't go to "NB@ggg" expecting any of that work. The designer's first show in Japan since 1999 focuses on more recent jobs. The font and masthead he and his office, Research Studios, made for The Times in 2006 is included, as is the font he developed for "Public Enemies."
The real treats, though, are Brody's self-expressive posters. His "Free Thought" work is digital, but looks like it was made with a calligraphy brush.
And, if you want to see the New Year's card Brody did for the Jordanian king, you're going to have to just try to get on the list for next year. There's still six months left, and when the card comes, celebrate with a bottle of Dom Perignon — Brody did their label revamp in 2007.
"NB@ggg" continues at Ginza Graphic Gallery until June 28. For more information, visit www.dnp.co.jp/foundation
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