This text-only record is part of the interactive AIGA Design Archives where you can view more details, zoom into images and explore other works in the definitive online resource on American design.
 |
Design Category
Book design, 2004
Design firm
Green Dragon Office (Los Angeles, California)
Collection
(2005) 50 Books/50 Covers of 2004
|
One of the only books to look at the influence of Buddhist ideas on contemporary artists from all over the world, Buddha Mind contains essays by writers considering different facets of this interrelationship. It also has a portfolio section of works by different artists, accompanied by interviews. A problem from the outset was the need to invent a visual presentation of the work that would convey qualities of “mindfulness” without succumbing to current visual clichés of Buddhism that are used indiscriminately in New Age marketing. Another problem was the sheer density of material that needed to be poured into a book that was scaled for reading, not just looking, so typographic clarity and a functional grid were important elements used to help organize this complex book.