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House Industries Hardcover – January 1, 2003

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 15 ratings

House Industries is famous for their impeccable tongue-in-cheek takes on American popular culture, on comic influences such as Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and on modern design classics from Neutra to Charles Eames. Based in Delaware, its members have been producing premier league typefaces and designs for a huge and devoted fan base since 1993.

Because their font and design work deftly meld cultural, musical and graphical elements, one becomes part of a concept and a way of life by buying a House product. Their prize-winning font families, for example, are lovingly packaged to match the overall font theme in wallets, bowling bags, UFOs, etc. Their unique type products can be seen internationally on anything from your favourite brand of cereal to highly circulated magazines and television shows. The stylish House catalogue, which is published three to four times a year, now reaches an audience of over 80,000.

This spot-varnished, linen-bound hardcover volume features 240 pages of highlights from House Industries' current work, including a distilled collection of photographs, sketches, original illustrations and personal anecdotes. Employing 6-colour-printing on a variety of paper types, this publication also includes five original fonts created exclusively for the book that will not be available anywhere else. The font CD also contains bonus audio tracks of stupid phone messages, appreciations and various other House hijinks, which may have occurred over the past few years. Because each House font is normally priced between $100 and $250, their inclusion is an added delight and makes the book an irresistible bargain for all aficionados.


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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Die Gestalten Verlag; First edition clothbound hardcover in slip cover (January 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 393112620X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3931126209
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.5 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.75 x 1 x 11.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 15 ratings

About the author

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Ken Barber
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Ken Barber is a professional lettering artist with over 25 years of experience in the field. As principal letterer at the distinguished design studio and font foundry, House Industries, he creates logos and wordmarks for people, products, companies and brands the world over. In his dual role as typeface design director, he also curates the company’s coveted retail font library. His work is in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Ken has been honored by the New York Type Directors Club, Association Typographique Internationale, and Design Museum London. He has taught design at many recognized schools, including Maryland Institute College of Art, University of Delaware, and Moore College of Art, and is currently an instructor at The Cooper Union in New York City. Ken also enjoys sharing his experience with the students in his hand-lettering workshops that he regularly conducts around the globe. Ken co-authored House Industries: The Process is the Inspiration (Watson-Guptill, 2017) and House Industries (Gestalten, 2004) with Andy Cruz and Rich Roat. His forthcoming House Industries Lettering Manual (Watson-Guptill) will be released in the spring of 2020.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
15 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2020
Awesome! Exactly what I wanted and arrived on time!
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2007
Great book. Not only is it a good read, but its fun to look at.

Nothing was overlooked in the production of this book. Whether you're a designer or aspiring designer, this book should be on your book shelf. It's a great study, as well as a work of art in itself.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2017
a great resource
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2005
Great book for any designer, artist or anyone that appreciates quality type, design and illustration.

I've enjoyed every single, overdesigned page and keep finding new little things hidden under the overprinted gloss and silver!!
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2004
True to its word, the House Industries book is fantastically over-designed, each page a testament to the Buddhist-like patience of the collective printers who have worked with them over the years.
The story telling is relaxed, entertaining and hilariously self-deprecating. Although, the folks at House don't take themselves too seriously, they are a Cultural tour-de-force in the design world and have set design trends that major retailers (Target, Old Navy) have been ripping-off for years and have made millions from.
Their unique vision, talent and respect for their craft is inspiring. Their appreciation for the unrecognized commercial artists of the past is practically a public service. After reading this book though, I felt like I should probably quit design and get a cashiers job at Key Food. Okay, more accurately, I was just shamed into raising the standards of my own work.
This is a truly inspiring book and should be required reading for practicing and wanna-be designers. Spring for a few extra bucks and buy it on their web site and get a numbered and signed addition. [...]
16 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2005
This is chock full of fantastic fonts wrapped with great design ideas. These guys have taken a load of themes, created fonts that fit with them and had some design fun as well.

I especially love the Ed Roth material with all those brilliant cars from the seventies that I remember so well from the set of bubble gum cards we had as kids.

It is a great resource and gets plenty of comment from envious workmates.

And what more could you ask for with 5 free fonts inside the back cover.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2004
Many have use fonts from House Industries. Their latest fonts are both appealing to consumers and useful to designers. House fonts become cliches within months of being released due to their popularity. The members of House Industries use a combination of craftsmenship, nostalgia and virtuosity in their design, seen here in this book, that is intoxicating. This book is really just a fetish piece, but I bought it non-the-less. I am sure that anyone involved in the production of this book lost ten years off their natural life because the printing is so fiendishly complex.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2004
A densely packed volume of House Industries' portfolio and history. Visually stunning, over designed and complete eye candy. This is one of the few graphic design books that is as interesting to read as it is to look at. And a reminder to those in the design business that even when you're "at the top," you still have to deal with difficult clients and worry about paying the bills.
A bit pricey, but worth every penny.
5 people found this helpful
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