As a longtime fan of the graphic work of Louise Fili, I was in book heaven when Elegantissima, a bountiful collection of Louise’s inspiring design work that includes book jackets, restaurant logos, packaging design and much more, came out in 2012. But what makes this book so inspiring and valuable to any and all creatives is her commentary on each project, the conception of the ideas, the various sketches and iterations as the designs evolve and her wealth of lifetime experience come shining through each page and each project.
It is always exciting to get “an insider view” of the many small decisions that are made that produce graphics that seem timeless and “just right.” The reader also gets a view into her design studio life and practice and also her years of photographic documentation of signage in Europe that so deeply informs her exquisite typography and design.
This is my first salvo of exposure to Louise Fili I will present, but her work and her world of friends, designers, teaching, her incredible husband (the designer and design historian, Steven Heller) and her long reach and influence on design, will be featured in future blog postings.
But, Elegantissima is a must read for every designer and all creatives of any stripe! Go buy the book and you will be highly rewarded.