Graphic Design Pioneer-Alexander Rodchenko Russian Constructivist

[@thefutur]

Hey guys, we screwed up - the picture at 00:49 is of Mayakovsky, not Rodchenko. Our mistake, sorry about that! We're not going to pull the video down for something simple like that though - enjoy the rest of the (hopefully accurate) content!

[@Ivan_p24]

I was so confused for a moment but great video anyways!

[@brandoperu]

Yeah I was so confused I started to question everything around me. The extreme and surreal experience from seeing another person in the picture made me dizzy and pretty fearful, due to the confusion of course. I am glad to know I'm not the only one who was so confused due to 10 seconds of an image of some dude.

[@dieterbruls4091]

You weren’t wrong at all. The text is by the poet Mayakovsky, the graphics are Rodchenko’s.

[@Cookieslayer3000]

Hey guys! 7:09 It's not a political poster. It's a commercial poster for "Ленгиз"(Lengyz) publisher of books. It says "Books. on all branches of knowledge" 10:16 and 12:57 - those are commercial posters for "Добролёт" (Dobrolyot) it was a Joint-stock company and the poster motivates you to invest in this company 15:16 - It's Lilya Brik she was Mayakovsky's muse and Rodchenko used her as a model in his posters and movies. You can also see her at 7:09. This is a cover for Mayakovsky's book "ABOUT IT". It's a big poem about love.

[@jrg7951]

Knowing design history is paramount for every designer. Everything is built on the foundation of the past. If you have no knowledge of the past, you don't know where we have been and where we are going.

[@pacefactor]

110%. One of the most profound moments I have had in my development was being forced to read Megg's History of Graphic Design. I went from being forced to it being one of the only textbooks I have permanently on my shelf and constantly use it for reference.

[@kentaylor7491]

A shame this series didn't continue. As designers we tend to get swept up with trends, looking back at the past masters really cuts through to what will stand the test of time and the core of good design.

[@megaxenu753]

i just discovered Rodchenko. Totally blown away by how much his work influences modern design.

[@thegreenbeanvegan6449]

"if we can just let go of trying to be original and just focus on trying to be good." WOW, that is the best advice I have heard all year. That should be on a t-shirt or on the side of the bus. That is some good Wisdom.

[@thefutur]

It’s from Paul Rand.

[@trentwilliams7829]

This is soooo needed. trying to be self taught, a curriculum is sooooo needed. please carry this on please

[@thefutur]

we will

[@warhorseman97]

This was enriching. The timelessness of his design supercedes over any pretty trend that we see. I need to get that down. Give me more Chris. This was nutritional!

[@thefutur]

working on it.

[@pberezin]

Guys, on the photo 0.49 of Mayakovsky Russian famous constructivist poet ). 6.57 On the right side says: Books on all branches of knowledge. Specifically here, is not a trace of politics, except for red color and popularization of education and science. Advertisement of publishing house "Lengiz" (Leningrad State Publishing House)

[@slavrine]

www.mmsk.ru/people/unit/?id=41542 You are right, that's Mayakovsky

[@thefutur]

got it.

[@pberezin]

Thank you for the research and awesome canal! )

[@RomanHubenko-n3g]

Mayakovsky is a futurist))

[@MelanieCamara-p3e]

Morning ⛅️ ☕️ Art History with The FUTUR! 💕

[@AlexanderNixonArtHistory]

Art Historian here; wonderful work; I'd say, it's ok to let the students indulge their intuitions here and there, directly responding to it without relying on historical context.

[@adiroxstr]

Yes for more history and art!!! Thanks guys! Super enriching!

[@Lnetta2Lteezy]

Wow, we literally just learned about this in graphic design class today! I try not to limit my education to the classroom and all your videos really help nail the point home!

[@thefutur]

what timing.

[@ale6680]

First photo in episode is Vladimir Mayakovsky (not Rodchenko!) Great episode btw! 👍👍👍

[@thefutur]

thanks for the heads up.

[@metaphysiqwa10]

Ахахаха

[@sizwethevoice]

Chirs Do is a cool leader i just love how he wanted to control the narrative when he picked that the discussion was about change in direction and it was going to expose them to unnessary critics coz they almost tried to speak on what what they dont know much about but Chris is said " let's stick to what we know." it's the leadership for me

[@thefutur]

Thank you

[@Dat1guybruh]

Yes do this more! Wrote a paper on Bodoni in college and I love that kind of in depth study.

[@ace-cq9bp]

Constructivism is by far one of my favorite movements. Everything makes so much sense in their work. And seems so satisfying. The fun part is that everything done by designers in Russia, was manly done to the commies and by commies. Love them, or hate them, it is absolutely beautiful.

[@thefutur]

focus on the art and design and less on the politics. make art not war.

[@pacefactor]

Russian art movements both built communism and destroyed it. Its a fascinating tale. Much of the early design was intentionally made to communicate with poor, illiterate farmers and factory workers - and very quickly after the revolution many of the designers involved got "excommunicated" for not "getting with the program" and because the elites saw them as a threat. The advent of "social realism" really got under people's skin - as it was this bright cheery lie on top of a depressing reality - a thing that got really rocked once western media snuck under the Iron Curtain and a few claim sparked the collapse. There are a lot of things that people claim caused the fall, but the simple act of showing people variety and creativity really made a difference. Designers and artists have far more impact on society that many are willing to admit.

[@dubnitsky]

Добрались до святого, sooo cool! cheers guys)

[@Marcel_Audubon]

"we're safe on the surface" The theme statement of these dopes. "it's just awesome!" The highest compliment of the inarticulate.

[@thefutur]

Thank you for your articulate response.

[@manishabains5686]

Ben narrated so well. Great episode.

[@linusdnylund]

Great episode and love the comment about originality. All we can do is form all of our impressions and knowledge in creative ways. There's a great quote from Steve Jobs, correct me if I'm wrong, but it goes something like "Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things." Which speaks volumes for me. My fellow class mates when I went to school and after that my colleagues gave me praise for having crazy ideas that comes from "nowhere" or left field. The ideas always come from somewhere, it's just having the frame of mind to connect them to new situations that makes them creative and novel.

[@Dannyk3979]

I've been trying to go back into history of graphic design and it's been so hard to find any content especially videos, so thank you for this!!!

[@thefutur]

You're very welcome.

[@aaa6072]

Gustav Klutsis another amazing constructivist from that period. Amazing use of collage

[@andrewlupo3002]

More of these, PLEASE!

[@alexanderb.4965]

For those who are curious, 10:10 is an ad for stock of an airline company called "Dobrolyot". It says "Someone who is not a stockholder of Dobrolyot is not a citizen of USSR". It also has a price quote under the plane of 1 golden ruble for a share. Thank you for the video.

[@breppbrepp]

Thanks Ben, unfortunately we didn't learn about these pioneers in design school here in Holland. We learned a lot but not this rich content about pioneers which I'm really interested in. Thanks Chris for dropping in when needed. x

[@thefutur]

you bet. we will share more on design pioneers.

[@shakeitlikeanaries128]

Really what school did you go to? Because I was tought constructivism in art class during high school , as part of the regular curiculum. (also in the Netherlands) Not a dig btw, just surprised.

[@SamirVIE]

Thank you - love the way how you presented an amazingly important part of graphic design and amazing comments on originality.

[@FerdausAmzah]

learnt a trick today thanks to Ben Burns... and that is to have a master slides with grids so that we can design without interference. brilliant.

[@martinascolours]

Love the bite size format.

[@martinascolours]

And this type of content too. Looking forward to more of these.

[@thefutur]

ben is working on a whole series of these.

[@elzilanecarvalho398]

This episode was so good! I've been reading about design history and it's been really enriching depicting the masters' works! Could please continue with this series? I'd love to hear how previous movements still influence the way we design today.

[@thefutur]

absolutely. are you a sustaining member of this channel yet?

[@SuperDreamSlayer]

The woman in the Red Car logo and the Rodchenko poster is the same woman from the first poster where she's yelling. Her name is Lilya Brik and she's known to have been involved with Mayakovsky. The three of them worked together quite often. Mayakovsky would put the copy together, Rodchenko would photograph Lilya and design the posters. At least, that's what I read.

[@krisjantzennario8800]

Thank you for this! Really brought me back to sitting in Phil Meggs’ history of graphic design class.

[@mym5831]

Love the works, i have see it, but it's still good to see it. Thaks for making a program like this present.

[@TheAgentmigs]

The point you make at 12:00 with different artists using tricks to pull you in. This is how Norman Rockwells strong composition got me into graphic design!

[@mequable]

You HAVE to check the Bulgarian logo designer Stefan Kanchev (1915 - 2001) - someone has even made a site about him, with all his logotypes. His works between the 40's and the 60's feel pretty contemporary here and there, and of course remind me of Rodchenko's works as well. Bulgarian graphic design, naturally, had a lot of things from the USSR artists.

[@ombrandon]

I am looking forward to seeing more!!

[@thefutur]

more it is.

[@МиюкиЧан]

Hello! I don't understand why you put a photo of Vladimir Mayakovsky at 0:45. Shouldn't be a Rodchenko photo instead? P. S. Chris and team, you are great teachers for me! Thank you for your amazing videos :3

[@kevlarjens]

Great video. I had an 'History of American Illustration"-class back in art school, and it was as important and pivotal as any of the studio classes.

[@moamenali7626]

Thank you guys for this amazing talk "it has been very uplifting to me" I really appreciate what you bring out to the world Chris Do.

[@thefutur]

thanks man!

[@moamenali7626]

My absolute pleasure :) Chris is like my mentor or guru & I really admire him & can touch what he is doing; I see his efforts as world changing; and this is the truth to be told! Nonetheless, he must complete his mission/legacy by doing/giving more to this world ;)

[@thefutur]

this is chris btw. you can speak to me directly. it's not some intern.

[@moamenali7626]

I love the internet for bringing people closer than ever! Somehow I got mind blocked when I knew this is really you!

[@thefutur]

most people assume it's not me.

[@francoismahr]

Chris mentioned that Rodchenko was also a photographer, that's an important fact. His photo work stayed avant-garde a very long period of time. They were taken in a constructivist concern. I guess mastering painting, collage and photography, as well as advertising helped him creating a new way to communicate ideas with texts and image in a dynamic manner : Graphic design. Rodchenko is one of my favorite Russian artist. Thank you for this video. Interesting point of view there.

[@thefutur]

one my faves of all time.

[@aaronmoroney2066]

Really loved this video - Would love more! finding it difficult to find some decent graphic design history videos online (plenty of written resources, but video is how I learn! )

[@thefutur]

we are making more.

[@PDiaz90]

Love this! I am learning from an online course and also self-teaching. I have been wanting to get more into the history of graphic design, and this definitely opens that up more for me. I appreciate you and your team.

[@thefutur]

Thank you.

[@dallas3771]

The woman in books and the poster cloned by red car is Lily Brik. She was Mayakovsky’s obsession but more so a huge part of these movements and an artist in her own right.

[@thefutur]

Thank you. Didn’t know this.

[@loss224]

Can we PLEASE get anther Graphic Design Pioneer video! loved it

[@thefutur]

yes. working on it.

[@travisarcher7221]

I would love it if the futur team did this same format with George Lois. Great job Mr. Burns.

[@thefutur]

we can add it to the list.

[@strongdieter]

The first picture is Vladimir Mayakowski photographed by Rodchenko, not Rodchenko. Mayakowski was a poet who wrote the famous book "PRO ETO", the last picture is the cover of it.

[@jt-ru8yb]

Nice! Its amazing to think of these being done by hand which I think this is a big reason why his work is so grounded in the fundamentals. We can lose a sense of these basics when we are using wacoms and mouses staring at screens. You can lose a sense of scale and space

[@jt-ru8yb]

The piece at 14:55 is FIRE

[@MsFluty]

"Books" poster is an advertising poster of a Leningrad (Saint Petersburg now) publishing house - LENGIZ (ЛЕНГИЗ). The part "LEN" (ЛЕН) is a shortened name of a Soviet town LENingrad, "G" (Г) is the first letter of a Russian word "Gosudarstvennyi" (Eng. "state") and "IZ"(ИЗ) is from a Russian word "IZdatelstvo" which means "publishing house". The woman on this poster is Lilya Brik. She was known as the beloved (muse) of Vladimir Mayakovsky. On the right - "in any subject area".

[@joeydelrosario6543]

As long the presentation is believable anything is possible especially when its unique in form of arts history can happened.

[@dieterbruls4091]

The ‘Books’-poster isn’t in any way political. It was an advertisement made for a big bookstore which had books in all branches. He made only one, which was later restored by his daughter.

[@jayizzla79]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm blown away by what he did during his time. Chris, you made a comment along the lines of Alexander being at the beginning of what we call Graphic Design today. Why do you feel that? Thank you for your time.

[@thefutur]

look in your design history book. he's there at the beginning.

[@paulkerrigan9857]

Thanks for this. Your information is very useful.

[@simptius]

Super interesting video. Extremely informative. I'm looking forward to seeing more! Thanks a lot Chris. Your content is unique and so worth watching.

[@thefutur]

share w/ friends. we need to keep growing the channel.

[@TheAgentmigs]

Can we see more of these please? I absolutely loved this video..and a giant part of becoming a better graphic designer is the awareness of design that already exists around us, both present and past.

[@thefutur]

let's see how many views this gets. if our audience wants more, we'll make more.

[@jackychan1133]

Thank you.

[@thefutur]

love your movies jacky. ;)

[@kayaeki]

I cant thank you enough how amazing job you guys are doing :')

[@dieterbruls4091]

The woman in the original ‘Red car’ design is Varvara Stephanova, a painter and designer in her own rights, who also happened to be Rodchenko’s wife.

[@PavelStarovoit]

The photo portrait at the beginning of the video is Vladimir Mayakovsky not an Alexander Rodchenko

[@thefutur]

google failed us. thanks Pasha.

[@lisac6867]

Words! If I ever wanna get a formal design education, I will go to your school!

[@gusubu17]

7:40 It was a poster with a woman yelling "BOOKS". It was a time where women were illiterate and this was a movement to educate women and get them started reading and writing in Russia.

[@eekyoucarlos]

love videos like these!

[@coralcohen1680]

Love thisss! Great video! (I really love all your videos) Can you please add more to this playlist? Or possibly recomend me some graphic design pioneers to research myself?

[@elperrogacho]

At 09:56 it''s a homage to Lyubov Sergeyevna Popova (Л. С. ПОПОВА) a fellow female constructivist who dies that year of scarlet fever at age 35. The still is the cover (designed by Rodchenko) of the catalogue of posthumous exhibition which took place at Stroganov Institute in Moscow. monoskop.org/Lyubov_Popova

[@checocgh]

The first picture you´re showing isn't Rodchenko. its actually Vladimir Mayakovsky, russian poet that worked with Rodchenko setting up the text for their publicity campaigns.

[@sarahhaleem2282]

This is awesome. When can we expect to see more of these?

[@thefutur]

our plate is always full. maybe we can enlist someone to do this?

[@mymythology8799]

guys great channel! i like it! sorry to say that but on 00.53 the photo of Mayakovsky by Rodchenko.

[@thefutur]

thanks. we're aware of it now.

[@scottpearson5744]

I think this is great. To fully understand design, you must first know where it started and how it progressed through time. I think the guy who mentioned that you guys aren't in-depth enough needs to chill. If you're interested in Alexander Rodchenko then you should use your own initiative and explore this in more detail yourself.

[@thefutur]

yes. i agree. we just want to turn you on to great designers. the rest is up to you.

[@zauronzux]

picture at 1:13 is not rodchenjko btw, it's mayakovsky

[@aleksandarmitic2016]

Fun fact ☺ The same woman is on the poster "books" and that one with intense look. Her name is Lilya Brik, great love of Vladimir Mayakovsky 😉

[@mesolithicman164]

Aleksandar Mitic Is it her, or Varvara Stepanova, Rodchenko's wife?

[@NN-vn3bs]

@@mesolithicman164 Rodchenko's wife was Varvara Stepanova.

[@mesolithicman164]

@@NN-vn3bs I knew that, I have books about both of them. I thought the woman on the poster was Stepanova. I'll have to check.

[@NN-vn3bs]

@@mesolithicman164 Oh, sorry, I've got it)) Yes, both photos, "with books" and "with eyes" - Lilya Brick.

[@mesolithicman164]

@@NN-vn3bs All I can say on this is that the woman with the stary eyes and the woman wearing a headscarf with 'scruffy' hair look different to me. I know that Rodchenko, and Stepanova shared a studio and that she used to model for his work, there are also pictures of her her wearing headscarves designed by the likes of Popova. So, I agree that the first model is Mayakovsky's wife, but I'm not convinced that she's the same person as on the poster. I thought I read somewhere that Rodchenko was working on the poster and he asked Stepanova, who was in the studio, to pose for this now iconic image. I may have misremembered and you could be right, so as much as I'm doubting you, I'm also doubting myself and my memory!!

[@slykuiper]

Great series!

[@thefutur]

Thank you.

[@JulietteTsvigun]

I myself have a small collection of Soviet Ads and they are absolutely cool)

[@thefutur]

cool

[@jdanielortega]

I feel there's a subconscious need to high praise everything done by good designers. Not only in this case. There's a chair made out of garbage, literal garbage, tied in with ropes, and it's a very respected piece in the world of industrial design (furniture) but I'm sure it's just because it was done by a famous designer. If I had come up with a garbage chair and presented it, I would have failed my class, because it's just me. I feel the same way about these pieces, If I had come up with the piece of the plane and the exclamation point. It wouldn't have been worthy of a review in the futur 100 years later, just because it was done by me. Have you guys ever felt something similar?

[@thefutur]

not sure i agree with this. some avant garde work isn't understood at the time but with perseverance and time, people come to appreciate. van gogh died broke.

[@JulietteTsvigun]

I think I know what you mean. But we have to see if it true for each case. For this instance, Rodchenko is praised for the design principles (fundamental, like the grid) rather than for everything else...

[@ClarenceDoskocil]

Notice the hidden rectangular shapes at 1:51! Adumbrations within the black.

[@ShaherSobhy]

i like this series! awesome 👏🏻, wonder if u could tell us where to know more about old history just like ben said :o i can’t go to art center here in Egypt 🇪🇬 :D so please suggest maybe some names and we could search it up

[@thefutur]

search graphic design pioneers.

[@paulrouhan7288]

9.55 is his catalogue design for Lyubov Popova from 1924. She is super important too. Artist, theatre designer, fabric designer and GRAPHIC DESIGNER. I have showcased her on my insta/Malevich Squared

[@Troglodyte93]

More videos like this. There are so many big names throughout design history that need a video of their own. I know russian constructivism is hot stuff, but I think you'd agree with me when I say there are some cool work throughout art nouveau (e.g. the Mac Donald sisters from british art nouveau), expressionism (kokoschka), jugend (the simplicissimus bulldog), sachplakat (lucian bernhard), dadaism (tristan tzara), modernism (edward mcknight kauffer), de stijl (piet mondrian), suprematism (kasimir malevich), international style (josef müller brockmann), post modernism (paula scher) There's just so much good stuff out there. Why stop at constructivism? Make a whole series of graphic design history videos. Videos like this would really have helped me during my design history course.

[@thefutur]

We need to make more like this.

[@imani828]

I literally found this video because of this comment - hey Futur gang, we need a Plakatstil video

[@connorpowell1699]

You guys need a section on your website with bite-size info and interactive imagery.

[@thefutur]

how will that help you?

[@EdmundWChan]

Cool

[@browniewitness]

so as already stated below by some others the first picture is Majakovskij (Russian Poet) but at least done by Rodchenko himself, the two of them were close friends and the photographs that got Rodchenko into trouble 1928 were taken on Majakovskijs Datcha (like a little holiday house)! Even though Rodchenko did believe that nature itself is primitive and the future of mankind lies in technics he took some pictures of trees in this radical angle which he is so famous for (those angles are also called Rodchenko-types now in photography) and people told him, that he is a formalist (which was not allowed in UdSSR at the time) and that all he did was copy western art because the trees very much looked like a german chimney picture. Funnily, with this accusation coming up, Rodchenko exactly prooved what he wanted: he reduced art to its sole aesthetics which leaves the substance absolutely irrelevant. I know, no one asked me to do this, but I just had to share this informations here :)

[@bridge_studio]

I'm sure someone has mentioned the Frans Ferdinand album cover.

[@shakibomrani9830]

Collage as an art form was first used in Cubism.

[@justinroy499]

Hey Chris are there any books on Scandinavian and European design you would recommend to purchase for a great read to really dive into their design techniques and good inspirational references to apply to my work? I have always admired the style I see online but I really want to completely understand it and have as a reference I can pull off my shelf in the future. I would love to hear your suggestions. Thanks!

[@thefutur]

i'm sure there are many. nothing off the top of my head, but a visit to your bookstore should reveal some answers.

[@joebazooks]

saved the best ones for last. the green and red poster was pretty fly too. wasn't it in good will hunting that they said the bmw logo is based on propeller blades? is that true?

[@thefutur]

yes. BMW used to make airplanes before making cars. check out their history.

[@joebazooks]

in the war right. ill have to check it out. i should know this since i drive one lol

[@TheNatew97]

Content is really fantastic Chris! I'm in the middle of a book by Douglas Davis called "Creative Strategy and the Business of Design" and was just curious if you'd read it.

[@thefutur]

yes. excellent book. did a book review and have spoken to douglas. we're speaking at the same conference in toronto.

[@TheNatew97]

when's the conference?

[@thefutur]

www.designthinkers.com/Home

[@dominicbarnes712]

The original BMW logo was designed in-house at Bayerische Motoren Werke AG in 1927. Whilst many think its checkered design is representative of a spinning aircraft propeller, it is in fact a combination of the logo of the Rapp Motorenwerke, from which the BMW company grew, and the colours of the Bavarian flag. www.creativebloq.com/logo-design/myth-bmw-logo-11135412

[@thisistheendpt2]

Three phrases you should never utter as a designer if you want to be taken seriously: "I'm self taught." "I got all my design information from the internet." "I design with illustrator"

[@Makxbi]

KVPD Why would those be phrases you would never want to say?

[@edmundomoi-thuk-shung6477]

This made me curious.. Could you explain why you shouldnt bring up these prashes?

[@thefutur]

Danny Yount is a self taught designer. He rocks! I've learned so much online. Maybe not everything. But a ton! I design with illustrator. No shame in that. They're all just tools. It's what you do with it.

[@Intentt]

Alexander Rodchenko is original according to chris, so why can't anyone else be.

[@thefutur]

everything comes from something. if you were there at the beginning of fire, electricity, the airplane, then yeah, go for it.

[@NN-vn3bs]

Could you tell me pl what "The Red Car" is? Is it a company? Where can I read about it?

[@plprooo]

Technically Gan was the father and first designer of constructivism

[@rohitnikalje409]

Amazing stuff. I miss the theme music

[@thefutur]

for cutdown, we just get straight to the point.

[@OlenkaShi]

0:50 It is more like he was born in the Russian Empire and died in the Soviet Union, but Russia works too =)

[@Nathan666ismynumber]

Just wondering what program was used to present

[@marosteeha]

What was the font used for the titles? I know i have it but can't remember!

[@thefutur]

Din. check the show notes.

[@cgisawesome2429]

Such an interesting ending to the video with the tweet on ignorance and arrogance. Ironically, Chris sounds lowkey arrogant himself lol. No hate, cause I think he’s right. I just get that from the way he speaks and his tone. Great video tho

[@thefutur]

I believe in myself. Call me anything you want.

[@cgisawesome2429]

@@thefutur Yea, with your success and the way you speak, I'd certainly expect you to believe in yourself as well. Again, no hate. I just thought it was interesting.

[@avant-gardener]

6:16 It's look like bullets cause all industry in soviets needed to be able to produce military stuff if war start. Like if you watch at soda bottle of soviet time it looks like ammo for tanks.

[@silversky5554]

7:59 i was just about to comment that lol

[@mguerra79]

The origin of the BMW's logo... In fact I thought to myself when seing this TheFutur video, «oh, it might have com from here»... Apparently not. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ-ln4GAZqupZpo

[@emagine45]

His name is spelled "Aleksandr Rodchenko"

[@officialtechin5]

🔝👌

[@marko2895]

What's your source that he fell out of favour with the govenment and the outlaw of his design?

[@thefutur]

the internet