Mecanorma Graphic Products Catalog, 1975
Contributed by Mark Simonson on Jan 3rd, 2022. Artwork published in
.
Photo: Mark Simonson. License: All Rights Reserved.
I’ve kept this catalog since it was new in 1975 when I was studying graphic design in college. The cover features Mecanorma’s Neo Prisma, designed by Nicola Russo. It utilizes extensive customization, overlapping and connecting letterforms for better type color and unity, and adds an underscore flourish to the N to finish off. The type is set at an angle to fill the cover while supporting text is set small and compactly in the lower right corner for contrast.
Published by Keuffel+Esser in Morristown, New Jersey. K+E were distributing Mecanorma’s Normagraphics products in the United States.
1 Comment on “Mecanorma Graphic Products Catalog, 1975”
Perfect. Thanks for sharing, Mark!
In my critique of Neo Prisma as being difficult to space harmoniously, I wrote that the design “really asks for a more drastic approach, like contextual alternates, ligatures, or cropped glyphs.” Funny to see that Mecanorma saw it the same way – and apparently also its designer.