Description
Since its start in 1935, https://www.penguin.com/ has been spearheading in suggesting ideas of what a modern day publisher should pursue by offering paperbacks with affordability and portability, formulating ideas to meet the needs of the times and establishing brand identity through book design ideas. Even when sold for affordable price, Penguin ensured quality of contents between the covers by finding the best-qualified authors. All of these were made possible by the founder, Allen Lane’s simple belief that “Books are for reading.”
Magazine B publisher Suyong Joh on Penguin, from the Publisher’s note in the issue:
While it is relatively easy for books and authors, music albums and musicians, and movies and directors to establish a brand name, the same is not true for publishing companies, record labels and film companies. Publishing companies are conventionally taken as platforms to distribute their creative production. The exception is Penguin, a publishing company that has established its own brand image. In the future, business will be about creating and distributing items with what kind of philosophy, as well as which creators and distributors are most likely to be at the center of attention. As markets are flooded with more and more contents – and clothing stores offering multiple fashion brands in one place are just a small part of this vast example – Penguin should give everyone a moment’s pause.
Other quotes from the issue:
Penguin introduced its Great Ideas series in 2003 and it created an enormous stir in the industry by going back to the original design ideas for paperbacks. Everything seemed to have gone back to the original – the book size and even the use of light and the thin paper for printing the actual pages. Penguin used tooling techniques like letterpress so the books have an analogue finishing touch to them in all respects – in both the way they look and feel. I think all of this was made possible because Penguin had its unique philosophy.Kiseob Lee, CEO of Thanks Books
Penguin is unique that they valued the contribution of design from the outset and have never strayed far from their original ethos. Too many books get designed by committee, but Penguin are consistently sure-footed when it comes to backing a strong, singular approach – a rare and highly prized attribute for any designer!David Pearson, Book Designer
A good pairing with Magazine B Tsutaya and Magazine B: Monocle