Up in Ontario

70 Years of Penguin Design

When the Duck and I were in London last fall we made a point of visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum on the recommendation of a friend and to see the 70 Years of Penguin Design exhibition. The museum didn't disappoint at all. It overwhelmed us.

The most impressive part I remember was seeing relatively recent objects considered as artifacts - telephones, toys, brooms, vacuums and radios all got play as collectable items. I loved this inclusive approach. It made the museum come alive and, at the same time, added weight and consideration to the objects of the contemporary world.

But. For me, the Penguin exhibition disappointed. I liked the see the evolution of the penguin mascot, and the development of titles' designs through iterations, and the various covers for the same print, reinterpreted year after year by new designers for changing times. But overall: not so worth going for. I'm glad the rest of the museum was so impressive.

But again. In photos, things can be so much more impressive. When I came across this collection of photos of 70 years of Penguin designs I wondered to myself if I'd given the exhibition short shift. The photos make it look better than it was. So enjoy the photos.