Jump to content

Unit Editions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Unit Editions
Founded2009; 16 years ago (2009)
FounderAdrian Shaughnessy, Tony Brook, Patricia Finegan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Headquarters locationLondon
Publication typesBooks
Nonfiction topicsDesign
Official websitehttps://uniteditions.com

Unit Editions is an independent[1] British book publishing company founded in 2009[2] by writer Adrian Shaughnessy and graphic designers Tony Brook and Patricia Finegan.[3] Headquartered in London,[4] Unit Editions is known for elaborately produced publications that focus on niche topics in graphic design and visual culture.[5][6][7][8] Their stated mission is to publish books on “subjects that are either neglected or ignored by mainstream publishers.”[9]

Unit Editions distributes books directly to customers, selling about 85% of them through its website,[10][11] and occasionally employing crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Volume.[12] Most of its books are produced in relatively small print runs of 1000–3000 copies,[10] and some titles sell out quickly.[13][14] The majority of books are designed by Spin Studio, run by the imprint’s co-founder Tony Brook.[15][16]

In 2023, British publishing house Thames & Hudson acquired rights to Unit Editions’ past publications and future titles.[17]

Awards and recognition

[edit]

Eating with the eyes, a collection of photographs by designer and Pentagram partner Harry Pearce, designed by Pentagram and published by Unit Editions in 2016, won the 2016 D&AD Award.[18] Unit Editions was nominated in the graphic design section of the 'Beazley Designs of the Year' exhibition at London's Design Museum in 2017[19][20] and included in Creative Review’s Creative Leaders list in 2018.[21]

Published titles

[edit]

As of 2025, Unit Editions’ imprint includes more than 50 published titles, including monographs on celebrated graphic designers like FHK Henrion,[22] Lance Wyman,[23][24] Pentagram,[25][26] Ken Garland,[27] Herb Lubalin,[28][29] and Paula Scher.[30][31] Each title published by Unit Editions is identified with a sequential number, usually placed on the book’s copyright page or covers.

Books published by Unit Editions
Unit Title Subject Year ISBN
1 Studio Culture: The Secret Life of the Graphic Design Studio Interviews with graphic design studio owners[32] 2009 ISBN 978-0-9562071-0-4
2 Supergraphics Supergraphics[33] 2010
3 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design Work by Total Design[34] 2011
4 Wim Crouwel: a graphic odyssey catalogue Catalogue to accompany exhibit at Design Museum 2011 ISBN 978-0-9562071-3-5
5 Projekt : The Polish Journal of Visual Art and Design Projekt magazine[35][36] 2011 ISBN 978-0-9562071-4-2
6 Kwadraat-Bladen - A Series of Graphic Experiments 1955-1974 Work by Pieter Brattinga 2012 ISBN 978-09562071-5-9
7 Herb Lubalin American Graphic Designer 1918–81 Work by Herb Lubalin[37][38][39] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-6-6
9 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance Work by Ken Garland[40] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-9-7
10 Jurriaan Schrofer (1926-90): Restless Typographer Work by Jurriaan Schrofer[41] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9562071-8-0
11 Scratching The Surface: Essays 1995-2013 Essays by Adrian Shaughnessy 2013
12 Type Only Typography[42] 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-1-5
13 FHK Henrion: The Complete Designer Work by FHK Henrion[43][44] 2013 ISBN 978-0-9575114-2-2
14 Herb Lubalin: American Graphic Designer 1918–81 (compact edition), re-issued Work by Herb Lubalin[45] 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-3-9
15 Manuals 1: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals 2014 ISBN 978-0-9575114-4-6
16 Supernew Supergraphics Supergraphics[46] 2012 ISBN 978-0-9575114-5-3
17 Type Plus Typography 2014
18 Manuals 2: Design and Identity Guidelines Historic corporate design manuals 2012
19 SPIN: 360º Work by design studio Spin[47] 2015 ISBN 978-0-9575114-8-4
20 Lance Wyman: The Monograph Work by Lance Wyman[48][49] 2015 ISBN 978-0-9575114-9-1
22 TD 63-73: Total Design and its Pioneering Role in Graphic Design, expanded Work by Total Design[50][51] 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-0-5
23 Eating with the eyes Photographs by Harry Pearce 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-3-6
24 Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps Postage stamps[52][53] 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-4-3
25 Herb Lubalin: Typographer Typography by Herb Lubalin 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-5-0
26 Action Time Vision – Punk & Post-Punk 7" Record Sleeves Punk and post-punk record covers[54][55] 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-6-7
27 Impact 1.0: Design Magazines, Journals and Periodicals (1922-1973) Magazine covers, 1922–1973 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-8-1
28 Impact 2.0: Design Magazines, Journals and Periodicals (1974-2016) Magazine covers, 1974–2016 2016 ISBN 978-0-9932316-9-8
30 Paula Scher: Works Work by Paula Scher 2016
31 Spin/Adventures in Typography Work by design studio Spin[56][57] 2017
32 andreas uebele material monograph volume 3, 2003–2016 Work by Andreas Uebele 2016 ISBN 978-0-9956664-2-9
33 National Theatre Posters: A Design History Posters for National Theatre[58][59] 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-3-6
34 Letraset: The DIY Typography Revolution Typefaces and history of Letraset[60][61] 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-4-3
35 Octavo Redux 1:1 — a record of Octavo, journal of typography 1986–1992 Work by design studio 8vo 2017
36 Spin/Adventures in Typography II Work by design studio Spin 2017 ISBN 978-0-9956664-6-7
37 Paula Scher: Works (concise edition), re-issued Work by Paula Scher 2018
38 Vaughan Oliver: Archive Materials & Fragments Work by Vaughan Oliver 2018
40 VNIITE: Discovering Utopia – Lost Archives of Soviet Design Work by VNIITE[62] 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-0-0
41 Lance Wyman: Process. A proposal for the 1976 USA Bicentennial identity Brand identity for the United States Bicentennial[23][24] 2018 ISBN 978-1-9164573-1-7
42 Karlssonwilker On America Visual essay on America by design studio Karlssonwilker[63][64] 2018
43 What is Universal Everything? Work by Universal Everything[65] 2019 ISBN 978-1-9164573-3-1
44 AZTDR™ – A—Z of The Designers Republic™ Work by The Designers Republic[66][67][68] 2019 ISBN 978-1-9164573-4-8
45 Studio Culture Now: Advice and guidance for designers in a changing world Interviews with graphic design studio owners 2020 ISBN 978-1-9164573-6-2
46 Ed Fella: A Life in Images Work by Ed Fella[69][70][71] 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-7-9
50 Pentagram: Living by Design Work by Pentagram[25] 2022 ISBN 978-1-9164573-8-6
53 1,000 Marks Logotypes by Pentagram[26] 2024
54 Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II Work by Chris Ashworth[72] 2025
55 Fred Troller Design Work by Fred Troller 2024 ISBN 978-0-500-88039-5
56 Ken Garland: Structure and Substance, re-issued Work by Ken Garland 2025

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Heller, Steven (2014-04-17). "The Lost, Surprisingly Soulful Art of Corporate Identity". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  2. ^ "They said books were dead, they were wrong: Adrian Shaughnessy on a decade of Unit Editions". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  3. ^ "Unit Editions". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  4. ^ "Unit Editions Makes Books for Designers – Glyphic". 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  5. ^ Petit, Zachary (2020-11-16). "Studio Culture Now: A Guide to Surviving—and Maybe Even Thriving—in an Era of Striving". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  6. ^ "Unit Editions". Designers & Books. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  7. ^ Leslie, Jeremy (2016-07-29). "Tony Brook, Spin & Unit Editions". magCulture. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  8. ^ Muraben, Billie (2016-11-01). "Unit Editions Pushes + Preserves Graphic Design by Publishing Books That Go Against the Mainstream". AIGA Eye On Design. Retrieved 2025-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "About". Unit Editions. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  10. ^ a b Bøg, Sanne (2023-01-14). "Unit Editions". boeg.studio. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  11. ^ Q42, Fabrique &. "Unit Editions". Design Museum. Retrieved 2025-05-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Unit Editions crowd-funds new book, System Process Form, from MuirMcNeil studio". Creative Boom. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  13. ^ "Vaughan Oliver: Archive – a limited reprint by Unit Editions in memory of the legendary designer". Creative Boom. 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  14. ^ "How Adrian Shaughnessy and Unit Editions Wrote and Published Pentagram: Living By Design | Scratching the Surface". scratchingthesurface.fm. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  15. ^ "TONY BROOK". Curator. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  16. ^ "New Unit Editions offering explores combined power of text and imagery". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  17. ^ "Unit Editions and Read-Only Memory join Thames & Hudson". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  18. ^ "Eating with the eyes | Pentagram Design Ltd | Unit Editions | D&AD Awards 2016 Pencil Winner | Specialist & Limited Edition Books | D&AD". www.dandad.org. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  19. ^ Q42, Fabrique &. "Unit Editions". Design Museum. Retrieved 2023-04-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Dawood, Sarah (2017-10-17). "Review: Beazley Designs of the Year 2017 at the Design Museum". Design Week. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  21. ^ "Unit Editions". Creative Review. 2017-06-19. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  22. ^ "FHK Henrion - The Complete Designer". Design Week. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  23. ^ a b "Kickstarter Campaign Hopes to Publish Lance Wyman's Fantastic Diaries". Metropolis. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  24. ^ a b "Tony Brook on publishing the visual diaries of Lance Wyman". Design Week. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  25. ^ a b TypeRoom. "Pentagram at 50: Living by design is a two volume compendium to inspire - TypeRoom". www.typeroom.eu. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  26. ^ a b "New Pentagram book features 1,000 logos its partners designed". Design Week. 2025-03-05. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  27. ^ "Ken Garland: Structure and Substance". Design Week. 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  28. ^ "Unit Editions' superb volume of Herb Lubalin's typography". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  29. ^ "Unit Editions' Herb Lubalin monograph". Design Week. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  30. ^ "The exact moment to end a client meeting, whether your client is Bob Dylan or Citibank". Quartz. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  31. ^ "Paula Scher: Works – Unit Editions' new book on the designer's phenomenal career so far". Creative Boom. 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  32. ^ "Studio Culture: The secret life of the graphic design studio, Unit Editions, 2009 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  33. ^ Pallister, James (2010-12-09). "Supergraphics: the book". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  34. ^ "TD 63–73: Total Design, Unit Editions, 2011 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  35. ^ PrintMag (2012-02-07). "Polish Projekt, Good Stuff". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  36. ^ "Eye Magazine | Review | Shadows over Poland". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  37. ^ PrintMag (2012-06-15). "Lubalin Is Coming, Lubalin Is Coming". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  38. ^ Currey, Mason (2012-06-25). "Designer for the age of austerity". Salon. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  39. ^ "New Unit Editions monograph to celebrate the late, great graphic designer Herb Lubalin". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  40. ^ "Ken Garland: Structure and Substance, Unit Editions, 2012 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  41. ^ PrintMag (2013-04-17). "Do You Know The Name Jurriaan Schrofer?". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  42. ^ "Graphic Design: New Unit Editions book celebrates type as graphic solution". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  43. ^ "Publication: Next Unit Editions book celebrates unique brilliance of FHK Henrion". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  44. ^ Heller, Steven (2013-12-09). "FHK Henrion Remembered, Revisited, Regaled". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  45. ^ "Herb Lubalin: American Graphic Designer 1918–1981 (compact edition), Unit Editions, 2013 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  46. ^ "Supernew Supergraphics". Design Week. 2014-05-23. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  47. ^ "Tony Brook tells us about creating the huge new Spin studio monograph". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  48. ^ Bell, Jonathan last updated in (2015-09-16). "Game(s) on: Unit Editions reveals definitive Lance Wyman monograph". Wallpaper*. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  49. ^ designboom, andy butler I. (2015-09-10). "lance wyman the monograph by unit editions". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  50. ^ "Unit Editions' re-released sublime Total Design behemoth is gorgeous". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  51. ^ Sinclair, Mark (2016-01-21). "Unit's TD 63-73 – what goes into a new edition?". Creative Review. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  52. ^ "Graphic Stamps: The Miniature Beauty Of Postage Stamps by Spin". Creative Boom. 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  53. ^ Voon, Claire (2016-07-12). "A Graphic History of Postal Stamp Design". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  54. ^ "Unit Editions' Action Time Vision – an alternative look at the aesthetics of punk". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  55. ^ Farris, Jessica (2016-12-20). "25 of the Best Recently Released Design Books". PRINT Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  56. ^ root (2017-03-25). "For the Love of Magazines: Jeremy Leslie reviews SPIN/Adventures in Typography". Friends of Friends / Freunde von Freunden (FvF). Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  57. ^ "Adventures in Typography: Spin's new book about its creative process". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  58. ^ TypeRoom. "Design is the real star in National Theatre Posters typographic legacy - TypeRoom". www.typeroom.eu. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  59. ^ "Exploring 50 years of National Theatre poster design". Design Week. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2025-06-11.
  60. ^ "Eye Magazine | Review | Relics of a vanished world". Eye Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  61. ^ "Unit Editions' study of Letraset takes on a new form in this Sheffield exhibition". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  62. ^ Byrnes, Mark (2018-11-29). "When Soviet Industrial Designers Imagined a Better World". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  63. ^ "Karlssonwilker on graphic design in America". Creative Review. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  64. ^ Leslie, Jeremy (2018-11-14). "karlssonwilker ON America". magCulture. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  65. ^ Tucker, Emma (2019-07-19). "Unit Editions celebrates digital pioneers Universal Everything". Creative Review. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  66. ^ "Everything you need to know (for now) about the Designers' Republic". Design Week. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  67. ^ "The Designers Republic: "Provoke response, create dialogue"". www.domusweb.it. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  68. ^ Carter, Dom (2018-11-14). "The story of The Designers Republic finally reaches print". Creative Bloq. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
  69. ^ Gosling, Emily (2022-03-22). "Ed Fella wrestles with the difference between artist and designer". Creative Review. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  70. ^ "Unit Editions' new book captures the enduring legacy of designer and rulebreaker Ed Fella". www.itsnicethat.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  71. ^ "Unit Editions Chronicles the Career of Ed Fella". Hypebeast. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  72. ^ "Disorder: Swiss Grit Volume II, Unit Editions, 2025 - Design Reviewed". designreviewed.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unit_Editions&oldid=1295291306"