Designing the Wild: Parks 2 Blends History and Nature
Explore Parks 2, a stunning ode to the National Park Service’s graphic design legacy, featuring over 300 pieces of history, art, and essays celebrating America’s natural wonders.
The National Park Service has always been about more than just scenic views—it’s also a master class in understated graphic design. The new edition of Parks 2 by Standards Manual, in collaboration with photographer Brian Kelley, takes this legacy to new heights, blending history, design, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. With over 300 passages, photographs, interviews, and vintage materials, this lush green hardcover is a love letter to the art of visual communication as much as it is to America’s storied wilderness.
Building on the success of its predecessor, Parks 2 digs deeper into the National Park Service’s design ethos. From iconic pamphlets and maps to historical brochures, the book captures the evolving typefaces, layouts, and artistic sensibilities that defined each era since the Park Service’s inception in 1916. It’s not just eye candy for design nerds; it’s a fascinating time capsule of how style and storytelling have intersected to connect people to nature.
Packed with essays from notable contributors like Chris Burkard, Alex Honnold, and Leah Thomas, the book juxtaposes pop art, historical reproductions, and modern photography to create a layered narrative. It’s a reminder that even in an era dominated by digital media, print design retains a unique power to inspire and inform.
With over 400 parks in the National Park System across 84 million acres, these lands—once stewarded by Native peoples—now serve as public spaces to explore, reflect, and reconnect. Parks 2 doesn’t just celebrate the places; it celebrates the people who’ve crafted the visuals that invite us in, blending artistry and advocacy in service of the great outdoors.
Parks 2 From the collection of Brian Kelley
