The accomplishments of the acclaimed graphic designer Michael Bierut are usually first recognised by sight before their names. Bierut, who has been a partner at the Pentagram since 1990, has been influential in shaping the visual language of the world around us, whether its crafting signage for the New York City Department of Transportation or bestowing brands like the New York Times, Saks Fifth Avenue, Penguin Random House or the New York Jets, with a definitive tone of voice.
This month, the School of Visual Arts in New York honours Bierut’s creative output with the first retrospective of the designer’s visual communication efforts. Ranging from logos, graphics and exhibition designs to Bierut’s personal sketchbooks, notebooks and other personal works, the inspiring exhibition presents just how deep a graphic designer’s influence can reach.
As its name suggests, ‘The Masters Series: Michael Bierut’ also inaugurates Bierut into the college’s Master Series – an award started by SVA founder Silas H Rhodes in 1988 that has been bestowed on other graphic design luminaries, such as Milton Glaser, George Lois, Deborah Sussman and Mary Ellen Mark. Dedicated to providing exposure for visual accomplishments that often go unrecognized, the award has been given to illustrators, designers, art directors and photographers over the years.
In addition to the exhibition, Bierut also releases a new tome, ‘How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry, and (every once in a while) change the world’, which showcases 35 projects that highlight the breadth of graphic design today. Told in Bierut’s engaging voice, the book is the perfect way to get to know the iconic designer better.
Bierut, who is a partner at the Pentagram, has been influential in shaping the visual language of the world around us, whether its crafting signage for the New York City Department of Transportation or bestowing brands like the New York Times, Saks Fifth Avenue, Penguin Random House or the New York Jets with a definitive aesthetic
The exhibition is part of the SVA's Master Series - an award started by SVA founder Silas H Rhodes in 1988 dedicated to providing exposure for visual accomplishments that often go unrecognized
‘The Masters Series: Michael Bierut’ showcases a wide array of logos, graphics and exhibition designs as well as Bierut’s sketchbooks, notebooks and other personal works
A sampling of posters designed by Michael Bierut
Bierut has worked for an array of educational institutions such as the Yale School of Architecture and MIT Media Lab
Notebooks and sketchbooks give a glimpse into Bierut's creative process
More pages showcasing how Michael Bierut's mind works
INFORMATION
‘The Masters Series: Michael Bierut’ runs until 7 November
Photography: Stan Narten
ADDRESS
SVA Chelsea Gallery
601 West 26th Street,
15th floor
New York City
-
What is the role of fragrance in contemporary culture, asks a new exhibition at 10 Corso ComoMilan concept store 10 Corso Como has partnered with London creative agency System Preferences to launch Olfactory Projections 01
-
Jack White's Third Man Records opens a Paris pop-upJack White's immaculately-branded record store will set up shop in the 9th arrondissement this weekend
-
Designer Marta de la Rica’s elegant Madrid studio is full of perfectly-pitched contradictionsThe studio, or ‘the laboratory’ as de la Rica and her team call it, plays with colour, texture and scale in eminently rewarding ways
-
SlowMo eases digital mental health therapy into daily lifeSlowMo is a new mental health support app developed by design studio Special Projects and King’s College London that uses visual prompts to combat unhelpful thoughts
-
Mark Dalton on helping people navigate a pandemic through designDesign Emergency began as an Instagram Live series during the Covid-19 pandemic and is now becoming a wake-up call to the world, and compelling evidence of the power of design to effect radical and far-reaching change. Co-founders Paola Antonelli and Alice Rawsthorn took over the October 2020 issue of Wallpaper* – available to download free here – to present stories of design’s new purpose and promise. Here, Alice Rawsthorn talks to creative director Mark Dalton
-
In memoriam: Wim Crouwel (1928-2019) -
V&A Museum’s new map navigates seven miles of gallery spaceAnyone who has ever found themselves waylaid in the V&A will welcome the addition of a new map, and nearly 400 signs, comprising 60 totems, 130 hanging signs as well as an entirely new signage at gallery thresholds
-
Nendo’s first graphic picture book depicts how design ideas are born -
Match maker: Yorgo & Co’s newest endeavour is a happy marriage of digital and print -
Making paper: traditional Japanese gift wrapping gets a modern German twist -
Frozen motion: Philippe Apeloig makes his mark on porcelain
