Design and Conquer

The Creative Blog of Alvalyn Lundgren

Design and Conquer header image 2

Paul Rand and Coldplay

September 16th, 2009 by Alvalyn Lundgren

Coldplay’s web site created this year, bears a remarkable resemblance to a book cover design by Paul Rand a few decades ago. The comparison cannot be missed.

Compare the Coldplay web page screen capture:

Home page at www.coldplay.com

Home page at www.coldplay.com



to Paul Rand’s assertive design:
Cover Design by Paul Rand

Cover Design by Paul Rand

Comparing is to focus on what is similar. Contrasting is to focus on what is not. There are obvious similarities but enough differences to understand in these two designs to see that the web design is perhaps more than inspired but not a derivative or copy of the book cover. It is “in the style of”. Maybe it’s even a tip of the hat.

The web page lacks the contrast of precise, explicit edges against accidental edges, and is more “dirty” in sensibility. The book cover is an example of modernism looking forward, the web page is an example of postmodernism looking backward.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • Netvibes
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • TwitThis
  • FriendFeed
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
  • Yahoo! Buzz

No related posts.

Tags:   · · · No Comments

0 responses so far ↓

Like gas stations in rural Texas after 10 pm, comments are closed.