Bruno Munari Square Circle Triangle

Along with the circle and the square, the equilateral triangle is one of the three basic forms, and is suitable to be combined in modular frameworks to generate a structured field in which endless other combinatorial forms may be constructed.

Bruno Munari investigates the design elements of the square and its use in designs as diverse as churches, monuments, games and fonts. He investigates the meaning of the square as the idea of enclosure, home and settlement as well as the interesting permutations that can be achieved from the monotonous repetition of four sides.

For Drawing a Tree, Bruno Munari proposes: "When drawing a tree, always remember that every branch is more slender than the one that came before. Also note that the trunk splits into two branches, then those branches split in two, then those in two, and so on, and so on, until you have a full tree, be it straight, squiggly, curved up, curved down, or bent sideways by the wind."

A playful and vibrant guide to drawing the sun In Drawing the Sun, Bruno Munari suggests: "When drawing the sun, try to have on hand colored paper, chalk, felt-tip markers, crayons, pencils, ballpoint pens--you can draw a sun with any one of them. Also remember that sunset and dawn are the back and front of the same phenomenon: when we are looking at the sunset, the people over there are looking at the dawn."

In the early 1960s Italian design legend Bruno Munari published his visual case studies on shapes: Circle, Square, and, a decade later, Triangle. Using examples from ancient Greece and Egypt, as well as works by Buckminster Fuller, Le Corbusier, and Alvar Aalto, Munari invests the three shapes with specific qualities: the circle relates to the divine, the square signifies safety and enclosure, and the triangle provides a key connective form for designers. One of the great designers of the twentieth century, Munari contributed to the fields of painting, sculpture, design, and photography while teaching throughout his seventy-year career. After World War II he began to focus on book design, creating children's books known for their simplicity and playfulness.

Artwork by Bruno Munari.

Bruno Munari was an internationally acclaimed artist, designer, and children's book creator. Acontemporary of Leo Leonni, his books have been hailed as "among the most original, inventive and beautiful ever created." Zoo is among his most graphically stunning works. Meet the kangaroo, who is all legs but doesn't know it, the zebra in his striped pajamas, and the humpy camel, who has a seat for you. Young readers will enjoy Munari's bright, bold illustrations; older readers will appreciate hiswry humor. From children to collectors, Bruno Munari's Zoo is certain to enchant a whole new generation. "Graphic designer Bruno Munari is one of the most inventive picture book creators I know. I have been inspired, entertained, and in awe of his work since I was a graphic design student in Germany more than 50 years ago. And Zoo has been one of my favorites. I am delighted that it is available once again for a new generation of picture book readers of all ages." Eric Carle