Pentagram

‘The National: Light Years’

Book Design

A book of photographs by Graham MacIndoe documents two decades of performances by the rock band.

Light Years is a new book created in collaboration by photographer Graham MacIndoe, rock band The National, designer Paul Carlos of Pure+Applied and Pentagram partners Abbott Miller and Luke Hayman.

The project is a design reunion: Scott Devendorf (of The National), Carlos, Miller and Hayman all worked together in the mid-1990s at Miller’s design studio Design Writing Research, occasionally collaborating with MacIndoe.

MacIndoe has been shooting portraits, concerts, and rehearsal sessions for The National for over 20 years since their beginnings in NYC. The photographs in Light Years were taken over 30 different concerts from across the US and eight recording sessions. 

The hardcover book is wrapped with mirrored paper and printed with glow-in-the-dark ink. Typography is set in Garaje Multi by Thomas Huot-Marchand (of type foundry 205TF) and Pitch Sans by Kris Sowersby (Klim Type Foundry).

The book is available to order from The National website and comes with a limited edition 12" vinyl featuring live tracks from the band’s 2018 performances in New York.

Hayman and MacIndoe previously collaborated on the Grammy-nominated cover design and promotional campaign for The National’s 2017 album “Sleep Well Beast.”

Office
New York
Partners
Abbott Miller
Luke Hayman
Project team
Jordan Taylor
Daniel Varillas
Collaborators
Graham MacIndoe, photographer
Paul Carlos, designer
View all images