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Unit Editions announces the launch of the first in a series of ‘newspapers’ devoted to the neglected, hidden and unexpected corners of graphic design and visual culture.

Unit: Design/Research 01–Ronald Clyne at Folkways.
An anthology of Folkways album cover art featuring the work of Ronald Clyne.

Ronald Clyne at Folkways is a 64 page ‘newspaper’ devoted to designer Ronald Clyne’s record covers for the Folkways label. Clyne is one of the undiscovered talents of 20th century graphic design. He doesn’t appear in the textbooks or literature of graphic design. He is a neglected figure. Until now, that is.

Ronald Clyne (1925 – 2006) designed over 500 album covers for Folkways and is largely responsible for the famous label’s striking visual appearance. His distinctive use of two-colour printing on matt paper and his deft use of modernist design strategies, created a body of work that gave the Folkways label its distinctive aroma of integrity and purity.

The influence of the Folkways label on popular music is incalculable. The label was founded in 1948 in New York by Moses ‘Moe’ Asch with the aim of documenting poetry, field recordings, natural sounds and all kinds of indigenous music. As Bob Dylan noted in his autobiography: ‘I envisioned myself recording for Folkways Records. That was the label that put out all the great records.’

Unit: Design/Research 01–Ronald Clyne at Folkways.
Contains over 200 examples of Ronald Clyne’s record covers. Also featured is an extensive essay by Adrian Shaughnessy charting the historical importance of the Folkways label, and offering an assessment of Ronald Clyne’s work. Design is by Spin.