Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots: California and Graphic Design, 1936-1986

Featured image, of Deborah Sussman and Lou Danziger's cover design for a 1968 H.C. Westermann exhibition catalogue for LACMA, is reproduced from Earthquakes, Mudslides, Fires & Riots: California and Graphic Design, 1936-1986, Louise Sandhaus' "herculean history of (and tribute to) the unique status and nature of graphic design in the Golden State—the result of ten years of research," according to Design Observer, which is featuring excerpts from the book all week. Sandhaus writes, "Opportunities for graphic design firms, as opposed to advertising agencies or renowned individuals, were still hard to come by when the LACMA curatorial group decided to hire local designers including Sussman and Lou Danziger. After meeting with Westermann, Sussman received a note from the artist that included a cartoon of an animal doing a handstand. It was signed, 'Respectfully, Cliff.' Sussman saw the drawing as a means to capture the essence of the wacky-spirited Westermann, an exercise buff. After taking a photo of him in the handstand pose, she adapted it with a rainbow coloring, and added the artist's salutation and a bright yellow background."