12 paradoxes of graphic design

Adrian Shaughnessy is a graphic designer and writer based in London. In 1989 he co-founded the design company Intro. Today he runs ShaughnessyWorks, a consultancy combining design and editorial direction.
Shaughnessy has written and art directed numerous books on design including How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soulwhich has sold over 70,000 copies to date. A new edition appeared in 2010. He latest book is Supergraphics — Transforming Space: Graphic Design for Walls, Buildings & Spaces (Unit Editions).
He writes regularly for Eye and Creative Review, and has a monthly column in Design Week. He is an occasional contributor to avant-garde music magazine The Wire. From 2006 until 2009, Shaughnessy was editor of Varoom, a publication devoted to the critical appraisal of illustration. Shaughnessy has been interviewed frequently on television and radio and lectures extensively around the world. In 2010 he was appointed visiting professor at the Royal College of Art, London. He hosts a radio show called Graphic Design on the Radio on Resonance FM. (source design observer)He gave us some insights he gathered over the years as a designer. He called them ”The 12 paradoxes of graphic design”. I thought we should include these in our blog as a guide.



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Graphic designer, art director, blogger, photographer lover, art lover, etc... Owner of http://www.graphicart-news.com. Co-founder of the International Reggae Poster Contest, http://www.reggaepostercontest.com. Art Director at http://www.stamoulis.gr on cover design and coffee table books. Curator and art-rep of Freestylee (Michael Thomspson). I adore minimal design as much as vibrant and bold. The ultimate desire is to constantly inspire people and expand their work all over the world, part of our plan of CatalystIdeas©.