Uncorporate Identity

Metahaven (Daniel van der Velden, Vinca Kruk) with Marina Vishmidt.

608 pages, softcover

Lars Müller Publishers, 2010.

In bookstores now. Order on Amazon.

"Uncorporate Identity questions the purpose and value of design in a neurotic and treacherous era of geopolitical instability."

Alice Rawsthorn, International Herald Tribune

"An eye-opening and provocative book." Icon

"A sustained and multivalent investigation into the relationship between design and power, often using visual and design tactics themselves as the form of interrogation. (...)

In an appropriately inside-out manner, Metahaven echo Wally Olins definition of corporate identity – 'strategy made visible' – but with an entirely opposite intent."

Sam Jacob, Mute

"There hasn't been anything quite this ambitious from a design team since Bruce Mau hit his stride...Uncorporate Identity collects the critical design projects they have undertaken to date and amplifies them with new material."

Rick Poynor, Creative Review

"After decades of corporate identity being reduced to logos, Metahaven has undertaken a larger project to explore identity in politics and culture, online and across borders. This expansive monograph is its own project – the transformation of a design practice into a research laboratory and think tank. An important book."

Design Observer

"An important status report for design in the contemporary context (…) Metahaven’s book will be a strong contender for either the sexiest thing in your library carrel or the smartest thing in your beach bag."

Alan Smart, Abitare

"One of the most innovative design studios in Europe."

Süddeutsche Zeitung

"One of the most radical groups of designers in Europe (…) Metahaven use a research-based, speculative 'meta-design' practice to rethink the structural parameters and channels through which emerging organizational models and political paradigms inadvertently stumble upon a form of communication."

Kaleidoscope

Uncorporate Identity

Metahaven

Contributions by Dieter Lesage, Chantal Mouffe, Regula Stämpfli, David Singh Grewal, Michael Taussig, Mihnea Mircan, Keller Easterling, Florian Schneider, China Miéville, Vladimir Kolossov, Boris Groys, Pier Vittorio Aureli, Sean Hastings, a.o.

'Just what is it that makes today's identities so different, so appealing?'

Table of Contents

intro riff

Intro Riff / Marina Vishmidt and Metahaven

Chapter 1

notes

Principality of Sealand / Metahaven

projects

Sealand model: Utopia ; Search Heraldry ; Jewel Box ; Information Monument ; Data as Currency ; Shadow Emblem ; Shadow Nation ; Sealand Model: Pringles ; Info Grey

dialogues

The Rise and Fall of the Data Haven: Interview with Sean Hastings / Metahaven

projects

Sealand Model: Cryptonomicon

notes

Emily's Message

diagrams

Sealand Diagram

horizons

The Network Ruin: Letters to Prince Michael of Sealand / Metahaven

projects

Sealand Model: Empire

surveys

Empire and Design / Dieter Lesage

projects

Mainport to Imagination: OTAN ; Eurozone

archive

Original Message: Correspondence between Sealand and Metahaven

echo poster

State of Emergency: Territorial Identity in the Post-Political Age

projects

Mainport to Imagination: Asylum ; Eurozone

strategic studies

The Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic: An Unrecognized State in the Geopolitical World Order / Vladimir Kolossov

notes

Financial Institutions

projects

Greycards ; Mainport to Imagination: Exception

horizons

The Mirror of the Network: part 1 of 2 / Marina Vishmidt

projects

Surplus: We Want the Job

Chapter 2

notes

The Iconic / Metahaven

surveys

Renaissance: Starchitecture Revisited in North-Korea / Metahaven

projects

Forbidden Icon

diagrams

Ryugyong Hotel, Orascom Telecom

projects

PostCom Grids ; Toxic Politics

surveys

Symbol Squatting: A Manifesto for Access / Metahaven

projects

Heliview ; Mapping absence

archive

Haunted by Ambiguity. A Conversation with Mariana Celac / Metahaven

notes

Romania and the EU

projects

Scenarios for a Dialogue

dialogues

The Museum of Conflict: Discussion

horizons

Foreverism / Mihnea Mircan

echo poster

Regimes of Representation: Art and Politics beyond the House of People

zine

Agonistic Politics and Public Space / Chantal Mouffe

strategic studies

Form / Pier Vittorio Aureli, Boris Groys, Marina Vishmidt, Metahaven

projects

Chess

Chapter 3

horizons

Looking for Jake: Reports of Certain Events in London / China Miéville

notes

Aftermath: Visual Legacies of 9/11 / Metahaven

projects

Some Gentlemen ; No Connection Fee ; Neocon Black Metal ; Encryption ; Terra Inc. ; Wall

diagrams

'Game'

zine

Pitch Black Metal: Logos, Passwords and Games / Metahaven

projects

CAPTCHAS & Black Metal Logos

dialogues

Defacement. A Conversation with Michael Taussig / Metahaven

projects

Towers & Symbols

dialogues

Draft Box - The Story of O / Metahaven

projects

Building 7

Chapter 3.5

notes

Welcome to Europe: Place Brands and Borders / Metahaven

surveys

The Scandal: Notes on the Autonomy of the Image / Florian Schneider

notes

A Question of Scale / Metahaven

projects

Affiche Frontière ; Monopolis: A Europe Game ; Void

dialogues

Identity and Excess: a Conversation with Bruno Besana

Chapter 4

notes

Quaero / Metahaven

projects

Quaero Logos ; Search Models

echo poster

Forum on Quaero

projects

Search models ; The Global Googlekea

notes

Meeting Mr. Jeanneney / Metahaven

projects

Quaero: Nouvelle Vague ; Stratified Identities

strategic studies

Brand States: Soft Power, Networks and Design / Metahaven

projects

Nye's Pavilion ; Suffixes

diagrams

The Domain Name Suffix

notes

Life in Social Capital / Metahaven

notes

Friends / Metahaven

projects

News Architecture ; Stadtstaat Model ; Euroslums

notes

Identities in Social Capitalism / Metahaven

projects

Trust ; Information architecture

notes

Solid and Flexible / Metahaven

projects

Döner Kebab ; Stadtstaat Exhibition ; Sozialstaat ; Extreme Democracy ; Pizza Dystopia ; Pizzastaat ; Notebook

horizons

Come to Things / Keller Easterling

projects

Logo Parc

notes

Ride the Hyperbole / Metahaven

strategic studies

From Public Relations to Social Standards: a Conversation with David Grewal / Metahaven

projects

Future Echo

horizons

The Mirror of the Network, part 2 of 2 / Marina Vishmidt

projects

Featuring

dialogues

Design and the Shapes of Democracy: a Conversation with Regula Staempfli / Metahaven

projects

Blackmail

horizons

Europe Sans: History, Politics and Protocol in the EU Image / Metahaven