KEN GARLAND
British
Graphic designer
Photographer
Writer
Educator
He has made a significant contribution to the development
of graphic design
since the mid-twentieth century and formed the
prolific design studio
Ken Garland & Associates
in 1962-2009
in Camden
London
where he continues to live and work
by : Ken garland
named: first things first
date : 1964
Written in 1963
Published in 1964
by Ken Garland
along with 20 other
designers / photographers / students
it was backed by over 400 graphic designers and artists
and also received the backing of
Tony Benn
radical left-wing MP and activist
who published it in its entirety in the Guardian newspaper
the manifesto was a reaction to
the staunch society of 1960s Britain
and called for a return to a
humanist aspect of design
It lashed out against the fast-paced and
often trivial productions of mainstream advertising
calling them
trivial and time-consuming
It's solution was to focus efforts of design
on education
and public service tasks that promoted the betterment of
society
to me this piece is history and the amount of designers that backed and signed it is astounding
the design is simple and minimal whilst the large title has a strong clean font that stands out
‘First Things First’
written 35 years ago in London
by Ken Garland
and signed by 21 other visual communicators
