- Abram Games: Design, compiled by Naomi Games and Brian Webb, features nearly 200 illustrations of the work of Abram Games. Best known as WW2's 'Official War Poster Artist' and designer of the Festival of Britain's emblem, he was considered to be one of 20th century Britain's most significant designers
This volume is an intriguing introduction to the graphic work of Abram Games. With images drawn from his personal archive, many less well known, it is possible to follow the social history of 20th-century Britain. For more than six decades Abram worked entirely on his own, always adhering to his personal maxim of 'maximum meaning, minimum means'.
From the start, Abram Games was determined to become one of Britain's great poster designers and would often say, "I have a small talent which I polish like a diamond." A first-generation Londoner, and an autodidact, he maintained that the three qualities a designer needs are curiosity, concentration and courage. These he had in abundance.
Just three months before his own death in November 1996, Abram's friend, the great American designer, Paul Rand, wrote in an obituary, "...stubborn, unique, a man of integrity, honour and talent, he meant what he said and said what he meant... Abe's work is well known; it is not my purpose to itemise his achievements, his posters for the army during WW2, his posters for Guinness, for the underground, many distinguished for their humour, their inventiveness and enthusiasm." Only Paul got away with calling him 'Abe'!
Also available:
Claud Lovat Fraser ISBN: 9781851496631 GPO ISBN: 9781851495962 Peter Blake ISBN: 9781851496181 FHK Henrion ISBN: 9781851496327 David Gentleman ISBN: 9781851495955 David Mellor ISBN: 9781851496037 E.McKnight Kauffer ISBN: 9781851495207 Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious ISBN: 9781851495009 El Lissitzky ISBN: 9781851496198 Festival of Britain 1951 ISBN: 9781851495337 Harold Curwen & Oliver Simon: Curwen Press ISBN: 9781851495719 Jan Le Witt and George Him ISBN: 9781851495665 Paul Nash and John Nash ISBN: 9781851495191 Rodchenko ISBN: 9781851495917
Having been brought up in a home where their father also worked, Naomi Games, her brother and sister and their mother, became Abram Games' sternest critics. As he completed each design, he would ask his family to comment. If his children failed to grasp the meaning of his work, he would begin again. After attending the London College of Printing when Tom Eckersley was Head of the Department of Design, she worked as a freelance designer and as a play leader with children of all ages. Naomi has written and illustrated nine educational activity books for children. Since Abram's death she has organised a touring exhibition of his work, lectures and runs his archive, which remains accessible to all, especially to students. Naomi has co-written a monograph on Abram Games and two books about Abram's involvement with London Transport and with the 1951 Festival of Britain.
