Deriving its title from the Paul Klee’s pedagogical sketchbook of the same name written in 1925, Taking a Line for a Walk focuses on the use of language in design education through the lens of the assignment, showcasing close to 300 contemporary and historical assignments ranging from the Renaissance up to the present including Eugene Grasset’s Méthode de Composition Ornamentale from 1905 and British graphic designer Ken Garland’s game Connect created in 1969.

This rich collection provides an overview of the development and evolving approaches to graphic design instruction. Conceived by Nina Paim and designed in collaboration with Emilia Bergmark, the book also includes two essays by designer, photographer, and writer Corinne Gisel, looking at the assignment as a teaching tool and linguistic artifact.

Taking a Line is the first installment of a trilogy of books on modes of design education, expanding from their exhibition at the International Biennial of Graphic Design, Brno 2014, Czech Republic.

Designed by Corinne Gisel and Nina Paim

Published by Spector Books, 2021
Second edition

272 pages, single color, concealed Wire-O case binding, 8.5 × 10 inches

ISBN 978-3-95905-081-4