Alexander Girard Coloring Book

CLASSIFICATION: Interactive Design Archive SUBJECT: Alexander Girard (1907–1993) FORMAT: 30 Adhesive Plates STYLE: Mid-Century Folk Modern ROLE: The Entry-Level Eames

Most coloring books are filled with generic cartoons. This volume is filled with design history.

Alexander Girard was not merely a designer; he was the Director of Design for Herman Miller’s textile division and a titan of the Mid-Century Modern movement. This book collects 30 of his iconic black-and-white line drawings—creatures, faces, and geometric folk motifs—and invites you to collaborate with him.

It is a masterclass in graphic joy. It strips away the pretension of high design and allows you (or a very fortunate child) to experiment with color on a canvas provided by a genius.

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THE CURATOR'S NOTES

• The Installation Mechanism: These are not standard pages. Each plate is printed on one side and features an adhesive backing. They peel off to stick up instantly. It allows you to turn a refrigerator or a nursery wall into a curated gallery of Girard prints without using a single strip of archival tape.
• The Pedigree: Girard is part of the holy trinity of American mid-century design, alongside Eames and Nelson. Engaging with this book is essentially a crash course in the aesthetic that defined the 1950s.
• Visual Literacy: If you are giving this to a child, you are not just keeping them busy; you are training their eye. It is never too early to introduce the concept of good composition.
• The Aesthetic: The designs bridge the gap between Modernism and Folk Art. They are bold, graphic, and inherently cheerful.