Mar 6, 2023
The legend that is Paula Scher.
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The legend that is Paula Scher.
Paula Scher, The Complete Genealogy of Graphic Design, Print Magazine Vol. 39, No. 6, New York, November/December 1985. via Letterform Archive
Typographic Design
Inspiration
Three Prominent Typographic Designers & Their Influence on Contemporary Typographic Design
Type is all around us, from menus to shop fronts, whether its on our phones or websites - we are constantly digesting the written word; but what is typography?
Typography is the art of arranging letters and text in a way that makes the copy legible, clear, and visually appealing to the reader. Typography involves font style, appearance, and structure, which aims to elicit certain emotions and convey specific messages. In short, typography is what brings the text to life.(Hannah, 2020)
To understand more about this, I have researched three prominent typographers, looking at their influence on contemporary typographic design.
Paula Scher
“Words have meaning and typography has feeling. When you put them together it’s a spectacular combination.” (Paula Scher)
Images via Google Images
Paula Scher is a New York based illustrator, painter, graphic designer, and art educator - she is one of the most influential designers of all time. Reviving design styles and historical typefaces, she is renowned for her eclectic approach to typography.
In her early career she secured a role at Random House, designing the insides of children’s books. From there she moved to the promotional department at CBS Records where she designed ads. Two years later, she left to join Atlantic Records as an Art Director and it was in this role that she designed her first cover for an album. She subsequently returned to CBS records where she went on to design over 150 album covers annually.
Paula Scher album covers - images via Google Images
Last Copies! Women in Graphic Design 1890-2012 / Available at www.draw-down.com / Why do so few women feature in the history of design? How have previously celebrated female designers come to be “forgotten”? Are women judged today solely on the basis of their quality of work? In recent decades, female graphic designers have been working actively and successfully, but the longstanding identification of creative genius with masculinity has—with a few exceptions—prevented women from receiving recognition in the official annals of design history; even today, only a tiny percentage of active female designers enjoy public acclaim. This thick and opulently illustrated volume sets out to repair this omission. Women in Graphic Design 1890–2012 presents the most significant female designers and traces their paths to professionalization and acclaim, through short biographies, essays and conversations with well-known contemporary female designers such as Irma Boom, Paula Scher, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, Julia Hoffmann, “Swiss Miss” Tina Roth Eisenberg, Katja M. Becker, Anna Berkenbusch, Heike Grebin, Gisela Grosse, Miriam and Nina Lambert, Iris Utikal and Judith Grieshaber. Also included are key writings by contemporary and historical designers such as Paula Scher, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, Natalia Goncharova, Ellen Lupton, Martha Scotford, Véronique Vienne, Astrid Stavro and Alissa Walker. Designed by Julia Meer #graphicdesign #typography #WomeninDesign #PaulaScher #SheilaLevrantdeBretteville #EllenLupton
THE DESIGN OF THE LOGO WAS NEVER REALLY THE HARD PART OF THE JOB…IT’S PERSUADING A MILLION PEOPLE TO USE IT.
Paula Scher (Abstract, Netflix series)
Last Copy! Paula Scher: Works / Available at www.draw-down.com / This definitive, chronological visual record spans Paula’s early days in the music industry as an art director with CBS and Atlantic records; the launch of her first studio, Koppel & Scher; and her 25-year engagement with Pentagram. The monograph is also a visual record of contemporary New York’s urban fabric, indelibly transformed by the designer’s innovative approach to environmental graphics and identity design: from MoMA to Charter Schools; from the High Line to Shake Shack. Scher's logos for global corporations and cultural institutions have cemented her reputation as a giant of identity design. A large section is devoted to the designer’s socially and politically-motivated posters, New York Times Op-Ed illustrations and campaign work. The book also provides the most up-to-date look at Paula’s idiosyncratic hand-painted maps, an unusually prolific artistic practice complementing her still-growing graphic legacy. In a long interview, Paula’s frank and open words lay bare the reality of design culture in the USA. With an introduction by Adrian Shaughnessy and an afterword by Tony Brook. Designed by Rachel Dalton and Tommy Spitters, under the creative direction of Tony Brook. Published by Unit Editions, 2017 / Softcover, 520 pages! #paulascher #uniteditions #graphicdesign #AdrianShaughnessy #TonyBrook
Last Copies! Paula Scher: Works / Available at www.draw-down.com / This definitive, chronological visual record spans Paula’s early days in the music industry as an art director with CBS and Atlantic records; the launch of her first studio, Koppel & Scher; and her 25-year engagement with Pentagram. The monograph is also a visual record of contemporary New York’s urban fabric, indelibly transformed by the designer’s innovative approach to environmental graphics and identity design: from MoMA to Charter Schools; from the High Line to Shake Shack. Scher's logos for global corporations and cultural institutions have cemented her reputation as a giant of identity design. A large section is devoted to the designer’s socially and politically-motivated posters, New York Times Op-Ed illustrations and campaign work. The book also provides the most up-to-date look at Paula’s idiosyncratic hand-painted maps, an unusually prolific artistic practice complementing her still-growing graphic legacy. In a long interview, Paula’s frank and open words lay bare the reality of design culture in the USA. With an introduction by Adrian Shaughnessy and an afterword by Tony Brook. Designed by Rachel Dalton and Tommy Spitters, under the creative direction of Tony Brook. Published by Unit Editions, 2017 / Softcover, 520 pages! #paulascher #uniteditions #graphicdesign #AdrianShaughnessy #TonyBrook
Last Copy! Women in Graphic Design 1890-2012 / Available at www.draw-down.com / Why do so few women feature in the history of design? How have previously celebrated female designers come to be “forgotten”? Are women judged today solely on the basis of their quality of work? In recent decades, female graphic designers have been working actively and successfully, but the longstanding identification of creative genius with masculinity has—with a few exceptions—prevented women from receiving recognition in the official annals of design history; even today, only a tiny percentage of active female designers enjoy public acclaim. This thick and opulently illustrated volume sets out to repair this omission. Women in Graphic Design 1890–2012 presents the most significant female designers and traces their paths to professionalization and acclaim, through short biographies, essays and conversations with well-known contemporary female designers such as Irma Boom, Paula Scher, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, Julia Hoffmann, “Swiss Miss” Tina Roth Eisenberg, Katja M. Becker, Anna Berkenbusch, Heike Grebin, Gisela Grosse, Miriam and Nina Lambert, Iris Utikal and Judith Grieshaber. Also included are key writings by contemporary and historical designers such as Paula Scher, Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, Natalia Goncharova, Ellen Lupton, Martha Scotford, Véronique Vienne, Astrid Stavro and Alissa Walker. Designed by Julia Meer #graphicdesign #typography #WomeninDesign #PaulaScher #SheilaLevrantdeBretteville #EllenLupton