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Parks

Parks

Standards Manual
№223
£45
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Experts Say

There are 300 examples found between the covers of this big, yellow coffee table book. … It’s a unique book that should remind you that most of what’s worth experiencing isn’t on a screen - Cool Material

Why It Made The List

Parks is a beautifully curated archive of U.S. National Park design — featuring over 300 pieces of printed ephemera from the past century. From early illustrated maps to mid-century brochures and the iconic Unigrid system of the ’70s, it charts the evolution of visual identity across America’s wildest places. Compiled by Brian Kelley and published by Standards Manual, the book spans 384 pages in a large-format, cloth-bound edition printed in Italy. A graphic time capsule of nature, culture, and design — perfect for park lovers and print obsessives alike.

SPECIFICATIONS

Format: Hardcover, case-bound, cloth-wrapped
Binding: Silkscreened cover and spine
Page count: 384 pages
Dimensions: 17.8 × 27.9 cm (7 x 11 in)
Printing technique: Stochastic screen
Editors: Jesse Reed and Hamish Smyth
Photographer: Brian Kelley
Publication year: 2019
Language: English
Printed in: Italy

Images: Over 300 vintage U.S. National Park maps, brochures, and printed ephemera.

Content scope: Visual history of American National Parks’ graphic design from the 1900s to 2000s.

MORE DETAIL

Parks from Standards Manual is a stunning visual tribute to America’s national parks, told through the lens of graphic design history.

Curated from photographer Brian Kelley’s personal archive, the book showcases over 300 original maps, brochures, posters, and ephemera spanning from the early 1900s to the dawn of the Unigrid system in the 1970s.

These materials chart the evolution of park design—from hand-drawn lithographs and early type treatments to the clean modernist layouts that defined later decades.

Presented chronologically, the book captures how visual media shaped public engagement with the parks.

From Ansel Adams photography to mid-century railway ads and bold WPA-era illustrations, each piece reflects the shifting ways Americans were invited to explore the outdoors.

At 384 pages and sized at 178 × 279 mm, this cloth-wrapped, silkscreened hardcover is as tactile as it is visual.

Every detail—from paper selection to binding—has been crafted to honor the legacy of print and the aesthetic soul of the National Park system.

More than just a collection of design, Parks is a cultural document that reflects the democratic spirit, conservation ethos, and timeless beauty of the American landscape.

A must-have for lovers of design, history, and the great outdoors.

SHIPPING AND RETURNS

SHIPPING OPTIONS

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Royal Mail Tracked 48 (2-3 business days): £2.95

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Royal Mail Next Day by 1pm (guaranteed delivery by 1pm next business day, if ordered by 2pm the business day before. Not available on bladed products): £12.95

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RETURNS

We offer 100-day returns, provided items are returned in a perfectly re-sellable condition (undamaged and in original condition with tags/packaging). For more detailed information on conditions of return and the process involved, please see our Returns policy page.

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