I think it would only qualify as stealing if they hadn't included the original. In fact, all of the books in their series have been versions of something from the interior.

If it is not stealing the idea then what does it qualify as?
Using as a template?

You can't steal a concept. Only duplicate/copy/parody/etc it. ;o)

I think it qualifies as an homage. I wouldn't call that stealing, agree with Tiff on that.

Anyone who believes in original ideas slept through Joseph Campbell day in Social Anthropology 101.

Or one of my favourite songs by Tom Lehrer.

Plagiarize,
Let no one else's work evade your eyes,
Remember why the good Lord made your eyes,
So don't shade your eyes,
But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize...
Only be sure always to call it please, "research".

He he. jpad, that's very good.

Nothing is original, just new ways of processing it, and that's the originality. If you look at it as separating concept from form and medium.

In advertising we call that appropriation.

>Anyone who believes in original ideas

I believe in original ideas. Eccleciastes was wrong: there is something new under the sun. Airplanes were new. Computers are new. Even Art Nouveau was new.

There is a novelty today even in type, which is an inherently conservative medium. Verdana was new, Amplitude, using traps decoratively, is new. Beorcana, handling serifs in a new way is new. There are minor novelties compared to the airplane, but still new.

It's not either/or, there are shades of "call it what it is".
The book cover in question totally swipes someone else's layout -- but as we now believe, there's more to design than layout, concept is important too. Is the concept here original -- i.e. taking an old piece of artwork and substituting new copy for all or part of it?
Of course not, so the question is, how well or cleverly is the substitution handled; and indeed there is some subtlety in the choice of how much of the text has been rewritten, and how to highlight it in colour. There is also the quality of the reconstruction (or forgery as Uli would term it) to be considered. But despite all those considerations, it's still not as good as creating an original layout in the style of Rogers would have been.

I produced a specimen brochure for my 1920s-style typeface Oneleigh, in which I took pages from old specimen books of that era and substituted Oneleigh, with fresh text. I also did some original layouts. Appropriation was a lot easier, of course, and you know the design is good, so no self-doubt about that. And the contrast between the original and the new is fascinating in its own right. But I'm not sure any of that really comes in to play beyond the redesigner and a few viewers, as most aren't aware of the repurposing. It does feel good, remaking something exquisite and venerable, which is a powerful justification for the redesigner. Like performing a classic piece of music, or copying an old type design, when it all comes together, bingo. Although others who have not been through the process might not be so convinced.

Considered for its marketing power (getting people to look at the book and buy it), the Typology cover is outright plagiarism. But once you get the book, and realize how clever the relationship between past and present is, that changes things.

These days, across the arts, more respect is given to thinking than making, which validates the process of "appropriation", as the use of that euphemistic term (with knowing irony or not) would suggest.

"It's hard enough to be clever, you don't have to be original."

— Quote attr. to David Bowie

BTW Nick: Is that Marcel Duchamp's addition to La Mona? Or your take on that? ; )

I believe in original ideas.

My previous post was made somewhat tongue-in-cheek; I guess it was probably more obvious to those of use who went to school after Moyers and PBS made Campbell accessible to college freshmen. I only meant to emphasize that creativity is an evolutionary process and that there is nothing wrong with designers shining a little light on the matter.

The best way to steal is to hold a design contest.

peace

Right, design my web banners for free. I remember that guy.

The best way to steal is to hold a design contest.

OH SNAP! Anyway, remind me to tell you a story about the neighborhood association newsletter my publication design class just redesigned as part of a contest...

I think it qualifies as an homage.

I'm with Patty Fab and Miss Tiffany.

I believe in original ideas. Eccleciastes was wrong: there is something new under the sun.

Thank you, William Berkson. The world would be an awfully boring place if Eccleciastes was right about that.

Homage I'd say (or maybe lack of an original concept). But apart from that... It's a really good reference book. It's worth it plagiarism or not.

Ballerina with Action Man Parts, £96,000

Is that Marcel Duchamp’s addition to La Mona?

Right. Painting has been obsolete for almost a century now :-)

I actually read that book when I was doing research on 19th century typefaces and I seem to remember it having the original specimen printed inside.