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An Olympic-Level Logo Designer Is Publishing Decades of Personal Workbooks

Legendary graphic designer Lance Wyman has made work for projects as distinctive and impactful as Mexico’s 1968 Olympics, Washington DC’s metro system wayfinding, and Chrystler’s pavilion at the NYC World’s Fair. After a lifetime of incredible output he’s publishing a book of his meticulously kept work diaries and you should be excited. 

The currently Kickstarting book is titled Lance Wyman: The Visual Diaries 1973—1982. It was edited by Tony Brook and Adrian Shaughnessy, designed by Spin, and will be produced by Unit Editions. The project is an outgrowth of an earlier book documenting the prolific designer’s work, during which the revelation of his decades of detailed record keeping stunned biographers.

While most contemporary designers have some sort of digital scrapbook of past drafts, sketches and brainstorming, few of us record our processes methodically. To catalog a work cycle is more than visual hoarding, it banks methods of creativity and critical refinement for later use. This practice was more tangible in the pen and paper days of yore, but not much. Design work is always full of scraps, errata, rabbit holes and dead ends, and what to save and what to toss isn’t always obvious. 

That type of self-aware selection (along with just plain exemplary work) makes this book a special kind of resource. Between the design evolution of specific forms you can find debated color swatches, regional cultural references, playful iterations, and notes-to-self on refinement. Whether or not graphic design pays your personal bills, this type of IRL DIY reference guide is an inspiring example of how to use your own hard work to inform subsequent efforts. 

Early-bird backers can get the book for $67, upwards of $80 after. Not surprisingly, the rewards on this project are a bit better looking than average. Supporters can pick up limited edition signed copies of Wyman’s ‘Artists For Obama’ poster, actually cool enameled logo pins, and even a visit to his studio. 

The book (and its supporter rewards) looks like a beautiful investment for design lovers of all stripes. The Lance Wyman: The Visual Diaries campaign runs through September 15, 2016.