Critique
Critique (established 1999) is the regular Eye column by Rick Poynor.
Too gaudy for words
Independent’s new clothes do nothing to establish a once elegant paper as a vital force. Critique by Rick Poynor
Revelations in style
Gallimard’s Découvertes series secures readers’ loyalty by showing respect for their curiosity and intelligence. Critique by Rick Poynor
A persuasive chancer
On the basis of its first issue The Happy Hypocrite is small, quietly experimental and just a bit passive aggressive. Critique by Rick Poynor
Absolutely the ‘worst’
How does a graphic work claim its place in history? Notoriety and originality helps, but nothing beats repeated publication. Critique by Rick Poynor
Portrait of the designer as author
Chip Kidd, designer and now novelist, is as skilled at crafting his own image as he is at creating other authors’ book covers. Critique by Rick Poynor
Picture a story
Katy Homans’ daring and ambitious cover designs for New York Review Books confound expectations. Critique by Rick Poynor
No animals or models were harmed…
Vogue’s fusion of high fashion with brutish behaviour besmirches readers by making abusive images acceptable. Critique by Rick Poynor
Drifters
Kapitaal renders the cityscape as a waking dream of signs and symbols. Critique by Rick Poynor
Digital self-expression
The MySpace phenomenon makes graphic expression as simple as swapping photos or keeping a diary. Critique by Rick Poynor