Celebrating ‘Variations on a Rectangle’
DJ Stout's first monograph is launched with a series of events in Austin—including the premiere of a new short documentary film.
Pentagram's DJ Stout has just published his first monograph, Variations on a Rectangle: Thirty Years of Graphic Design from Texas Monthly to Pentagram (University of Texas Press), and the book has already received favorable reviews from The New York Times Book Review and Design Observer. “I believe everything we do (as designers) is about storytelling,” Stout shares in a new interview with Fast Company's Co.Design, and Variations on a Rectangle traces this guiding principle through all of Stout's work, from his stint as an award-winning art director at Texas Monthly to his projects as a partner in Pentagram's Austin office.
Stout's friends, clients and colleagues have helped him celebrate the book's publication at a series of events. A book launch and signing was held under a big tent in the parking lot of Pentagram Austin’s office on Thursday, October 29. The event was well attended by the local community and included appearances by special guests from both coasts.
All 21 of the current Pentagram partners came to Austin November 13–16 for their semi-annual international partners meeting and to attend a party for Stout's new book. A special cocktail reception for the partners was held on Friday, November 13 at the home of Cindy and Scott Trainer. It was a swanky, festive evening until a band of gunslinging Texas desperadoes showed up.
On the following evening of Saturday, November 14 the partners and VIP guests gathered to attend a celebration of Variations on a Rectangle held on the rooftop deck of The Contemporary Austin. During the event the New York photographer and filmmaker John Madere debuted his documentary about DJ Stout’s work and career titled “The Man who Designed Texas.” The film and portrait of Stout shot in West Texas is a part of Madere’s series on prominent graphic designers.
