There are hundreds of designers who have bent the rules and challenged boundaries, completely changing the way we see design. But today, we’re looking at just several pioneers of modern graphic design that we think you should know.
Paula Scher:
Paula Scher is a graphic designer and artist known for her work in branding and environmental graphic design. She is a partner at the design firm Pentagram.
Famous Designs: One of her most notable works is the branding and identity design for the Public Theater in New York City, where she created the iconic and widely recognized “Public” logo, featuring overlapping letters in bright colors. Another famous design is the Citibank logo, which she revamped in 1998, using a bold and contemporary approach.
Stefan Sagmeister:
Stefan Sagmeister is an Austrian-born graphic designer known for his experimental and thought-provoking designs, often combining art and design in unique ways.
Famous Designs: His notable works include album cover designs for musicians like Lou Reed and The Rolling Stones. He is also known for his “AIGA Detroit” poster, which features a powerful visual representation of urban decay and regeneration.
Milton Glaser:
Milton Glaser was an American graphic designer and co-founder of New York Magazine. He is celebrated for his diverse body of work across various design disciplines.
Famous Designs: Glaser’s most iconic design is the “I ❤ NY” logo, created in 1977 to promote tourism in New York City. His psychedelic Bob Dylan poster, featuring Dylan’s silhouette with colorful, swirling hair, is also a well-known and influential work.
Saul Bass:
Saul Bass was an American graphic designer and filmmaker, known for his innovative and memorable title sequences in films and his iconic logo designs.
Famous Designs: He created some of the most recognizable movie posters and title sequences, including the opening sequence for Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and the iconic logo for AT&T.
Massimo Vignelli:
Massimo Vignelli was an Italian graphic designer known for his minimalist and modernist design approach, emphasizing clean lines and typography.
Famous Designs: Vignelli’s work includes the iconic New York City Subway map, designed in the early 1970s. He also co-founded the design firm Vignelli Associates, where he worked on projects ranging from corporate identities to product design.
Jessica Walsh:
Jessica Walsh is a contemporary graphic designer known for her bold and vibrant designs and her collaborations with Stefan Sagmeister.
Famous Designs: Some of her notable projects include the rebranding of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the design of the “40 Days of Dating” project, which gained significant attention for its unique storytelling approach.
