Penguin Books is a British publishing company that was founded in 1935 by Allen Lane. The company is known for its iconic design, which has played a significant role in the publisher's history. The design of Penguin books is characterized by its simplicity, elegance, and modernity, which has helped to make the books accessible to a wide audience.
The original Penguin covers, designed by Jan Tschichold in 1935, were simple, with a color-coded spine and an illustration on the front cover. This design was intended to make the books easily recognizable and to appeal to a wide range of readers. Over the years, Penguin has experimented with different cover designs, but the basic elements of the original design have remained the same.
In the 1940s, Penguin introduced the "Penguin Special" series which featured more graphic and illustrated covers. In the 1960s, Penguin further developed its design aesthetic with the introduction of the "Penguin Modern Classics" series which featured minimalist covers designed by German typographer, David Pelham.
In recent years, Penguin has continued to innovate and experiment with cover design, collaborating with contemporary artists and designers to create new and distinctive cover designs. The design of Penguin books has thus played a critical role in the publisher's history, helping to establish its reputation as a publisher of high-quality, accessible books.
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