M&CO LABS
M&Co.
M&Co.: M&CO LABS. New York: M&Co. Labs, 1992. Original edition. 16mo. Saddle-stitched self printed wrappers. 32 pp. Product catalog. Colorful and witty graphic design/copy writing throughout. Front panel lightly handled, but a fine copy.
4 x 5.5 stapled catalog featuring the M&Co. Labs line of watches, paperweights, books, and clocks. “The products in this catalog were designed collaboratively by Alexander Brebner, Stephen Doyle, Laura Genninger, Alexander Isley, Maira Kalman, Tibor Kalman, Dean Lubensky, Marion McLusky, Emily Oberman, Douglas Riccardi, and Scott Stowell.”
“Tibor Kalman founded the legendary, multidisciplinary design firm M&Co in 1979. In collaboration with his wife Maira, the conceptually progressive firm initially created graphics, magazines and film titles, and books. Following the release of a record album cover for the Talking Heads, M&Co gained major attention for "pushing the envelope" on conventions of design and typography, and went on to become a major influence on emerging designers. The Kalman's social concerns and reactions to contemporary attitudes resulted in products that are enjoyed internationally as they address contemporary issues. Their products, which combine wit and whimsy with good graphic design, helped ignite the current demand for designer-created products.” —The Museum of Modern Art
Throughout his 30-year career, Tibor Kalman brought his restless intellectual curiosity and subversive wit to everything he worked on -- from album covers for the Talking Heads to the redevelopment of Times Square. Kalman incorporated visual elements other designers had never associated with successful design, and used his work to promote his radical politics. The influence of his experiments in typography and images can be seen everywhere, from music videos to the design of magazines such as Wired and Ray Gun.
”The worst place you could possibly get design ideas is from other designers,” according to Tibor Kalman referencing this poster, quoted from his essay ’Tibor’s Typo Tips!” in Baseline 11, 1988.
From Matthew Haber’s 1999 Obituary notice: “ [Tibor] Kalman was best known for the groundbreaking work he created with his New York design firm, M&Co, and his brief yet influential editorship of Colors magazine. Throughout his 30-year career, Kalman brought his restless intellectual curiosity and subversive wit to everything he worked on -- from album covers for the Talking Heads to the redevelopment of Times Square. Kalman incorporated visual elements other designers had never associated with successful design, and used his work to promote his radical politics. The influence of his experiments in typography and images can be seen everywhere, from music videos to the design of magazines such as Wired and Ray Gun.”
”... Born in Budapest in 1949, Kalman and his parents were forced to flee the Soviet invasion in 1956. They settled in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., when he was 8. Kalman was ostracized in elementary school until he learned to speak English. “
”Kalman parlayed his childhood isolation into some of his most successful design innovations. “He was keenly passionate about things of the American vernacular because he wasn’t American,” Chee Pearlman, editor of I.D. magazine, remarked shortly after Kalman’s funeral. “In that sense, he taught the whole profession to look at things that they may not have seen as closely or taken as seriously.”