David Carson's Lost Archive Resurfaces in 'The Rules of Grafik Design + Creativity'
A raw collection of thoughts, prompts and approaches from Carson’s disruptive practice.
David Carson‘s archival book, The Rules of Grafik Design + Creativity, is now available after being “lost” for years. The book, created between 2003 and 2009, is not a polished design manual but a raw collection of thoughts, prompts and approaches from Carson’s practice. It offers insight into his instinctive design process, with unfinished pages, low-resolution images and printer’s crop marks left intact.
Originally intended as a scrapbook of eight years of work, the book resurfaced in 2022 as a single PDF—the original files are missing. The unfinished nature of the book provides a candid view of Carson’s approach, emphasizing creativity through experimentation rather than strict guidelines. Despite the title, Carson notes that the book was never about “rules” but about exploring creativity across all disciplines, not just graphic design.
Often mislabeled as the “Godfather of Grunge,” Carson’s work is better described as instinctive and experimental. The book demonstrates his sensitivity to photography, language, images, and type, showcasing his freeform approach to creativity.
The Rules of Grafik Design + Creativity features over 200 pages, packaged with screen-printed covers, a hessian spine, flat-bind PUR, and utilitarian greyboard covers. The book is available to purchase on Unseen Sketchbooks for approximately $48 USD.
