The exhibition doesn’t begin to do justice to the range and depth of thought presented in the book. At the heart of the work is a debate between modernism and post-modernism whereby the new recognises the value of the old and builds upon it rather than seeking to destroy.

Postmodernism is seen as a peaceful insurrection, rather than a revolution and I’m perfectly comfortable with this idea. The principle theme is that all of this work is the result of “systems based” process and editorial choice and it deals with this without getting caught up in any trivial discussions of analogue vs digital techniques which is refreshing.

The authors seeks to constrain the unconstrainable by introducing three categories of the Post-Modern response to infinite choice. Code, Generic and Deconstruction are thought provoking and useable structures through which to analyse current trends in visual expression in interactive, transmitted and printed modes. They wisely acknowledge the breakdown in distinctions between the disciplines of typography, graphic design, photography, and illustration. That if anything is the nature of the postmodern condition for the current design-scene.

The semantic limitations of critical language are ruthlessly exposed by these artists and they know it. Above all, in all the work, I felt a strong sense of humour. These artists have confronted choice and limitation and found a strange anarchic sense of joy in the provocative contradictions they face.

Graphics: Design Now
Date: June 21st – October 27th, 2002
Open: 10:00 – 17:45 (Closed on Saturday and Sunday)
Place: Design Museum
Address: 28 Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD
Admission: Adults 6 £, Concessions 4 £
Tel: +44 (0)20 7940 8790
https://www.designmuseum.org