Not For a Want Of Trying - Bart Luijten

Not For A Want of Trying is an extensive retrospective of the 35-year career of Belgian designer and creative maker Bart Luijten. This comprehensive publication serves as a chronological “picture book” and historical document, tracing Luijten’s profound influence on the Belgian cultural landscape. Spanning 384 pages, the book presents a vibrant explosion of visual material, from iconic music posters for venues like Ancienne Belgique (Brussels, Belgium) and Arenberg & OLT (Antwerp, Belgium) to the avant-garde layout of cult magazines such as Pulp, Plastiks, and Gonzo Circus. The collection expertly balances Luijten’s high-profile commercial work for clients like Virgin Records, Lannoo Publishers, and M HKA with his deeply personal independent practice, including intricate collages and illustrations. By showcasing design work that bridges the post-punk and pre-internet eras, the book captures a unique evolution in visual communication. While Luijten’s most significant cultural campaigns are front and centre, the selection remains idiosyncratic, offering a rare glimpse into the archives and creative mind of a designer who helped shape the aesthetic identity of a generation.