‘U-Joints’, short for ‘universal joints’, is an international research project and exhibition series exploring the theme of connections in design and architecture, curated by Andrea Caputo and Anniina Koivu. The two-kilo volume brings together over 1,000 images, 250 illustrations, 80 essays and interviews, and 120 anecdotes to present a comprehensive overview of joints, from their invention to their many innovative applications.
Divided into six chapters, each examining a different typology of joint – from Basic Fasteners to Welded and Fused Joints – the book adopts the functional aesthetics of DIY manuals and trade catalogues. A flexible black-and-white grid unites the varied content, while six die-cut illustrated joints on the inner flaps, one for each chapter, can be detached and used as bookmarks.
Editors: Andrea Caputo, Anniina Koivu
Editorial team: Margherita Banchi, Marta Pezzoli
Senior researcher: Eleonora Castellarin
Concept and art direction: GTF
Campaign Fedrigoni – Image library
Campaign Vitra – Vitra Classics
Campaign Kvadrat – Kittens
Campaign Frieze Art Fair – Fireworks
Campaign Kvadrat – Shapes
Campaign Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre – The Season of Regime Change
Exhibition Somerset House – Cute
Exhibition Science Museum – Who am I?
Exhibition Art Institute of Chicago – GTF: Resourceful Design
Identity Fedrigoni – Paper Box
Identity Gagosian – Identity
Identity Design Museum – Identity
Identity Frieze Art Fair – Identity
Identity Habitat – Identity
Packaging Homer – Homer
Packaging Herman Miller – Formwork
Product Tate/Perpetual Editions – Perpetual Postcard Calendar
Product Graphic Thought Facility – MeBox
Publication Andrea Caputo & Anniina Koivu – U-Joints
Publication Gagosian – Catalogues
Publication Fendi – The Fendi Set
Publication Penguin Books – Chatsworth, Aradia, Now
Publication Richard Avedon Foundation – Avedon Advertising
Publication Dior – Dior Images: Paolo Roversi
Publication COS – Creating with Shapes
Publication Gagosian – Gagosian Quarterly
Publication Bloomsbury – Heston Blumenthal at Home
Publication Gagosian – Crash: Homage to JG Ballard
Retail Vitra – VitraHaus
Wayfinding Vitra – VitraHaus Signage
Wayfinding Hult International Business School – Wayfinding