Today I read an article on Design Observer by Michael Bierut all about the Ernst Bettler story that appeared some years ago in dotdotdot. The ‘Bettler affair’ was a key part of my PhD dissertation, which I finished in 2002. The dissertation, which I hope is reasonably accessible, addresses the politics of graphic design practice and design activism in North America. (I also interviewed a bunch of designers about First Things First 2000, which was very topical at the time.) The plan was to turn the dissertation into a book, but other (good) things happened instead. Here, then, for the very first time, I present my dissertation.

Interviews include: Michael Bierut, Milton Glaser, Jessica Helfand, Marlene McCarty, Stefan Sagmeister, Gunnar Swanson, and Teal Triggs. If you want to cut straight to my take on the meanings of the Bettler affair, it begins on page 134 of the pdf.

Update (16/6/09). The pdf download now includes the appendices images. Erp. (Thanks Deb!)