Recently, we were significantly struck by a quote, or more appropriately a paraphrase of a quote, from William Wordsworth: a great poet must create the taste in which their poetry is to be enjoyed. It reminded us of a more prosaic admonishment from a PR friend (when we were still involved in scenarios that needed such council): write your bio or someone else will and you won’t like it. For us the combination of the two created an overlap of significance, the linking of intensity and practicality — an incitation to be fully involved in your work — all of it.
The site of Austrian designer Johanna Gratzer typifies the point. All is attended to; one never wonders whether a perusal will be worth one’s time: the elegant typographic interplay, the obvious sensitivity of arrangement, the easy-but-assured pacing. It pulls you in at first sight, then flawlessly unfolds, all casually reinforcing the intellectually concentrated theory. It’s just so confident, gorgeous, smart and tasteful.