WipEout Futurism: The Graphic Archives

By Duncan Harris The definitive illustrated history of the cult videogame—a heart-thumping fusion of groundbreaking graphic design, architectural futurism, electronic music, and high-speed racing. Working its way through the fascinating creation story and cultural footprint of the WipEout game series, WipEout Futurism offers unprecedented access to the game’s visual archives and reveals the creative processes behind the teams, tracks, vehicles, and iconography that define the series. Within these pages you will find original concept art, promotional materials, in-game photography, the monumental graphic design work of The Designers Republic, and much more. WipEout crashed onto the scene in 1995, shifting games into the cultural fast lane with its unique 3D visual designs. It propelled a wondrous hit of antigravity, hyper-speed racing into the heart of the freshly released PlayStation console and, over time, the series grew into a cult phenomenon among graphic designers and gamers alike. With its clubland branding, devised by cutting-edge Sheffield agency The Designers Republic, and its on-the-pulse collaborations with electronic artists, from the Chemical Brothers to Kraftwerk, WipEout was not only a racing game, it was a vehicle for art. WipEout Futurism chronicles the iconic game’s vision, struggles, and achievements—from first conception to future plans—in a distinctive union of trailblazing artwork and graphic design. The book includes exclusive interviews with electronic duo Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll, sound designer Loic Couthier, writer Damon Fairclough, game director Stuart Tilley, and more. With a foreword by Ian Anderson of The Designers Republic Art directed by Studio Build Published by Thames & Hudson, 2024 Hardcover, 320 pages, 500 color images, 10.2 × 11.3 inches ISBN: 978-0-50-002176-7