Inspired by the book Making Design by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (New York), the series L'Univers des formes by Gallimard or La vie des formes by Henri Focillon, but also by editorial projects of the 1990s such as the magazine Permanent Food, the "Formes" series was created to highlight the works of the old collection of the isdaT. Richly illustrated, these 3000 art books deal with architecture, painting, sculpture, decorative arts and travel.
The collection's aim is to produce picture books intended for both the general public and informed readers. Each volume of the collection deals with a theme. For each theme, an artist-teacher from the isdaT is invited to take a subjective look at the collection of old books, in dialogue with the person in charge of the heritage collections. A collective work is then set up with the graphic designers and the photographer.