Iron Fists
June 24, 2009
The design studio, Project Projects, who is responsible for the design of Heller’s Iron Fists: Branding the 20th Century Totalitarian State has a bunch of great photos of various spreads from the book posted on their site.
Mad Music
June 23, 2009
For his latest post for Design Observer, Steven Heller reflects back on one of his favorite LPs Mad “Twists” Rock ‘n’ Roll.
A Conversation with Seymour Chwast
June 22, 2009
Steven Heller interviewed Seymour Chawast as part of an AIGA event celebrating Seymour’s latest book Seymour: The Obsessive Images of Seymour Chwast. Design blogger Christine Park covered the event along with a series of photos on her blog.
New Ornamental Type
June 19, 2009
Steven Heller and Gail Anderson have teamed up again for a new book New Ornamental Type. Due out from Thames and Hudson later this year, the book presents a dazzling kaleidoscope of highly animated text and type samples across a broad spectrum of styles and effects. Psychedelia, Hip-Hop, Gothic, flowers, smoke, hair, electricity, and monuments are just a few of the creative allusions for the hundreds of dramatic and intricate examples inspired by nature, history, and just about anything that is visually expressive. Words become pictures before our eyes.
Beginning with an historical overview of ornament and how it has evolved through the major creative periods from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present, the book includes hundreds of contemporary examples from around the world, organized into three sections: ‘History Lesson’, ‘Au Naturel’, and ‘Eclectic’, each with a brief essay introducing the background, influences, and outstanding aspects of the graphic work
The Nose Number 19
June 19, 2009
Director J.J. Sedelmaier hooked up with design/illustration icon Seymour Chwast to create an online issue of Chwast’s publication The Nose. Animation is simple but effective. The piece takes a humorous look at the predictions that people have made throughout the past century. Steven Heller wrote the introduction.
O Say Can You See: Who Put the ‘O’ in the Obama Campaign
June 16, 2009
While in Italy, Steven Heller presented his lecture “O Say Can You See: Who Put the O in the Obama Campaign: Contemporary Political Graphic Design” which focuses on the design work created for 2008 the Barack Obama presidential Campaign. You can watch the presentation here.
SVA Masters Workshop in Rome: Day 14
June 6, 2009
Like all good things, the SVA Masters Workshop has come to an end. After a day of work, participants presented their finished guide book proposals to a panel of guest critics at the Forum of the Palazzo dela Expositzioni in Roma. Among the projects were guides to the letter Q in rome, to the best gelaterias, to the most significant inscriptions, and for the “second trip to Rome.” A food-filled reception followed in the Palazzo’s ultra modern lounge where we all posed - or shall we say swarmed - for group photos. Lita, Steve, and Esther wished the participants farewell, with the hope that it is not goodbye.
And the Trophy for the Most Generic Trophy Goes to...
June 5, 2009
In his latest blog post for The New York Times Moment Blog, Steven Heller reflects on the design of awards handed out today and what the quality of design and production says about the achievement.
SVA Masters Workshop in Rome: Day 13
June 5, 2009
The penultimate workshop day began with participants scurrying to get their Roma projects in shape. Parked at cafes, bars, and hotel lobbies - and our classroom at La Sapenzia, the workshopees took in their last breaths of inspiration in anticipation for tomorrow’s final crit. In the afternoon Darius Aya, Ph.D at the Institute for Roman Culture brought them back to the beginning again with a guided tour of the Roman Forum. In the evening Steven Heller gave the Iron Fist lecture at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, in collaboration with AIAP and Laboratorio d’arte, followed by the first European Alumni Dinner with MFA Design program grads.
SVA Masters Workshop in Rome: Day 12
June 4, 2009
From ancient Roman letters to contemporary Roman designers. This morning Cristina Chiappini, who has developed a body of work focused on the female body, showed her Roses of Flesh Spines of Light project, a publication designed to raise awareness of the horror of genital mutilation. She also showed how the body plays a role in her commercial and non-commercial design. Also on hand were the partners of ADE Creative Studio in Roma, who showed us their video bumpers and motion identity for QOOB, an entertainment broadcast company. With less than two more days to go, the workshop participants socked down some wine and went back to work.
SVA Masters Workshop in Rome: Day 11
June 3, 2009
Today was Roman Letter day at the SVA Workshop and James Clough, letterer and historian from Milan, served as our guide. During a three hour morning session he traced the origins of Roman type epigraphy to metal founding. Then he led a drawing session, where workshop participants interpreted the fundamental typographic forms in novel ways. After a day of drawing and rubbing we visited the National Museum’s Epigraphy collection. Some artifacts were so modern, they could have been done yesterday.
SVA Masters Workshop in Rome: Day 10
June 2, 2009
Today is the Day of the Republic commemorating when Italy became a nation. With school closed, Roman typographer Mauro Zennaro led a walking tour of Roman inscriptions. We trekked from the Piazza Minerva, where Bernini’s famous “chick and elephant” sculpture of a small elephant points his rear to the nearby monks, to the the Piazza del Popolo, where the first Arabic numerals can be found inscribed on a church in Rome. Workshop participants made countless tracings of words and letters, and the clicks of digital cameras filled the corsos.
SVA Masters Workshop in Rome: Day 9
June 1, 2009
Walking the cobblestone streets of wet Roma we arrived at The University of Rome, La Sapenzia, for the first lecture on typographic inscription by Roman typographer Mauro Zennaro. He took us through his process of developing his own type interpretations of inscriptions from Pompeii and explained that early Roman lettering was painted not inscribed. Participants then spread out through the piazzas around the Pantheon to find their own inspirations and visited the Biblioteca Angelica to hold and caress ancient books. In the afternoon Steven Heller spoke to students of La Sapenzia about influences and cliches in contemporary design.
SVA Masters Workshop from Venice to Rome: Day 8
May 31, 2009
Sunday the workshop participants met at the Venice railway station for what turned into a lengthy 7.5 hour trip (owing to train delays) to Rome. However, we completely monopolized the First Class carriage. The weather was cooler than previous days, and close to Rome fog and rain dominated. But Rome is the eternal city, and participants will eternally remember the experience.
SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 7
May 30, 2009
After marathon all-night sessions in our studio at Fondazione Claudio Buziol workshop participants were ready by 5 pm to present their guidebooks to a room of guest observers. Representatives from Illy Cafe, Editions Corraini, along with Giorgio Camuffo, Sandro Berra, and Renzo di Renzo attended. In just three and half days most all participants in Louise Fili's workshop produced exceptional concepts and solid designs. Some of the books were decidedly ready to go to the next stage of development. A Prosecco-bathed reception followed the presentations.
SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 6
May 29, 2009
By 8:30 participants converged at the Venice Santa Lucia train station for a trip to TIPOTECA ITALIANA. At this superb museum of type and printing we were guided by Sandro Berra through three hundred years of typographic art and technology. He introduced us to wood and metal types and explained Linotype and Monotype systems. After a hearty meal, and “the best prosecco in Italy,” participants composed and printed a specimen of rare Futuristic wood type and handset a broadside with foundry type. At night they locked themselves into the Fondazione readying themselves for the final.
SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 5
May 28, 2009
Today’s weather in Venice is perfect - not too hot, not too cold - just right for a day devoted to intensive work. Participants in the Masters Workshop spent the morning in Louise Fili’s guidebook class discussing and fine-tuning their concepts and designs. Time is running out, for tomorrow is an all-day visit to the type museum and workshop, Tipoteca. So today is devoted to hunkering down and producing for the final critique on Saturday. Participants are on their own this evening while Steve Heller visits with Giorgio Camuffo’s students at IUAV-The University of Venice. Rumor had it that Shepard Fairey, who is in Venice to produce artwork for the Biennale, may be there too (but the rumor was wrong).
How Much Is That Artifact in the Window?
May 27, 2009
Heller looks at the practice of reselling design artifacts for his latest post on Design Observer.
SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 4
May 27, 2009
As the clouds menacingly formed over St. Marks Square, participants were ensconced in their tromp l’oeil painted classroom at Fondazione Claudio Buziol. Louise Fili’s guidebook project is well underway, and participants are beginning to show their research and development. The class ended with a brief typographic walking tour to Rosa Salva Gelateria to photograph the exquisite script sign and then to Mariposa Blu, where one of a kind artisan velvet ballerina slippers adorned with Venetian glass beads are reasonably priced and beautifully displayed.
SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 3
May 26, 2009
On this warm and sunny Tuesday Louise Fili’s type and food workshop participants took a “traghetto” across the canal to the Rialto market, where they scarfed up orange wrappers and other labels for their respective guidebook projects. Sharks and squid ink were found at the bustling mercato de pesce. A spice shop was also on the agenda, then a jaunt to Gianni Basso’s Venetian letterpress shop where students viewed the printing of a card on press, and held wood and metal fonts. Basso also showed samples of work printed for the variegated likes of Paul Rand, Danielle Steele and Joseph Brodsky. From there Fili held out the option of a brief lecture back at the Fondazione Claudio Buziol or a class at a gelateria on the Fondemente Nove - they opted for the creamy confection. Later that night, Steve Heller and Lita Talarico gave their Design Entrepreneur talk to over 100 attendees at the Fondazione.
SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 2
May 25, 2009
Carlo Branzaglia, director of design at the Academy of Fine Art, Bologna, gave a history of Italian graphic design from the Renaissance to Post-Modernism in just under 45 minutes. And it was not just concise, but totally insightful. After Louise Fili’s first lecture of Italian typographic inspirations, Workshop participants climbed the Magical Mystery Tour bus to Fabrica for a tour and lecture by Omar Vulpinari, director of visual communications. A beautiful facility designed in a neo-classical style by Tadao Ando. This was followed by “O Say Can You See: Who Put the O in Obama,” a talk by Steve Heller about the winning campaign style of Barack Obama.
Dispatches from the SVA Masters Workshop in Venice: Day 1
May 24, 2009
Orientation with Steve Heller and Lita Talarico at the Fondazione Claudio Buziol. Louise Fili discussed plans for her Venetian typographic scavenger hunt. Then Giorgio Camuffo, force of nature and the “only native Venetian” alive provided an animated guide to the hidden Venice beyond the canals.
Italy Talks Series
May 14, 2009
On June 5, Steven Heller will be presenting his lecture from his latest bok, Iron Fists. Branding the 20th Century Totalitarian State at Palazzo Delle Esposizioni in Rome.
On May 25th, as part of the Fabrica Lecture Series, Steve will be giving a presentation titled “O Say Can You See” that will examine contemporary political graphic design, specifically, the work done for the Obama Campaign. You can learn more about this lecture and others at Fabrica here.
Steven Heller will be part of the DocialDesignZine Talks 2009 in Italy on Friday, May 22nd and Saturday, May 23. Along with other Italian and foreign guests, Steve will be discussing the social value of visual communication. Learn more about the event here.
Hand Lettering
May 7, 2009
Heller examines the practice of using hand-generated lettering in Design for his most recent T-Style blog post.
Father of Shrek, Grandfather of Tweet
April 29, 2009
Steven Heller takes a look at the work of children’s book author and illustrator William Steig for his latest post on Design Observer.
Swastika candleholder reignites debate of symbol
April 23, 2009
Steven Heller remarks on the attempted sale of a candleholder marked with the Nazi Swastika symbol through the Goodwill. You can read the article here.
Shepard Fairey Is Not a Crook
April 10, 2009
Following his recent panel discussion at the ICA regarding appropriation, Steven Heller looks specifically at the work of designer Shepard Fairey for the New York Times T Style Blog, The Moment.
Shrinking Album Art
April 7, 2009
Steven Heller talks with Virginia Prescott of NPR about the history of album cover art and the challenges that designers face with creating album art for the digital meidum of MP3 players and the digital screen.
Design as Social Agent at the ICA: Iron Fists, Something Borrowed
April 6, 2009
The Bostonist website covers Heller’s presentation at the ICA/AIGA Talk: Design As a Social Agent and recaps the discussion on appropriation of artists and designers with Heller, Nicholas Blechman and Elliott Earls that was moderated by Kevin Grady. An additional recap of the event can also be found on the Harvard Crimson website.
ICA/AIGA Talk: Design as Social Agent
April 2, 2009
On Saturday, April 4th, Steven Heller will be giving a presentation as part of the ICA/AIGA design series in Boston on his latest book Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-Century Totalitarian State.
Design Entrepreneur: Steven Heller
March 31, 2009
Watch Steven Heller’s presentation at the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) from January 31.
Japanese Face Masks
March 31, 2009
During a recent trip to Tokyo, Japan, Steven Heller collected a variety of face mask packages which he looks at in a post for Design Observer.
Making Obama’s Marks
March 10, 2009
In his latest post for the New York Times T Style blog, Steven Heller looks at the two new logos unveiling by the Obama administration for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (Tiger).
Water by Any Other Bottle
February 27, 2009
Heller comments on the design and packaging of designer water in his latest post for The Moment, the T Style blog.
The Good Books
February 25, 2009
In his latest post for Design Observer, Steven Heller takes a look at the visually rich 250 volume collection of Die Bibliophilen Taschenbücher published in Germany.
Design Artwork for a Shrinking Album Cover
February 23, 2009
Steven Heller writes on the challenges designers face with the task of designing album art for the digital medium used by MP3 players for Wired Magazine.
New Blog at the Times
February 12, 2009
Steven Heller is part of a new blog at the New York Times as part of the T Style, the blog is called Graphic Content, you can view Heller’s first post recognizing the new 30 year anniversary logo for the Cooper Union here.
Steven Heller and Lita Talarico to lecture in Tokyo and Seoul
February 11, 2009
Steven Heller and Lita Talarico will be traveling to Tokyo and Soul this spring to present and lecture on the topic of their latest book The Design Entrepreneur including student designers from the SVA MFA Designer as Author program.
4 Year Anniversary of Design Matters with Steve Heller and Lita Talarico
February 6, 2009
Steven Heller and Lita Talarico of the School of Visual Arts MFA Designer as Author program were guests on Debbie Millman’s radio program Design Matters talking about their latest book together The Design Entrepreneur from Rockport Press. You can listen to the podcast here.
The Nose No. 18
February 6, 2009
Spreads from the latest issue of The Nose issue number 18, titled Cults and Superstition have been posted online.
MFA Design in Italy
February 4, 2009
Steve Heller, Lita Talarico, Louise Fili, and more will be teaching design history, theory and practice in Venice and Rome this coming May and June. Learn more about the program here.
Presenting visual propaganda at UCLA
January 30, 2009
Steven Heller spoke Wednesday night at the Broad Art Center, taking a historical and illustrated look at the use of visual media in totalitarian governments. His presentation covered topics from his most recent book with Phiadon Iron Fists: Branding the 20th Century Totalitarian State.The Daily Bruin covered the presentation along with Native Intelligence, an LA based blog.
My Dada
January 26, 2009
Steven Heller reflects on his experiences of working with the East Village Other and counter culter publishing of the 60s and 70s in his latest post for Design Observer.
Commentary Magazine reviews Iron Fists
January 26, 2009
Michael Lewis from Commentary Magazine reviews Steven Heller’s Iron Fists: Branding the 20th Century Totalitarian State.
Draw Me Schools Of Commercial Art
December 15, 2008
In his most recent post for Design Observer, Steven Heller presents a brief history of commercial art correspondence schools.
A History of Aggressive Design Magazines
December 9, 2008
Steven Heller’ latest post for Design Observer takes a look at the evolution and history of design and art trade publications.
“Comrade, it needs more zeppelins’
December 6, 2008
Heller’ latest book Iron Fists: Branding the 20th Century Totalitarian State (Phaidon Books), reviewed by the National Post.
The “O” in Obama and design breakthrough to his presidency
December 4, 2008
A recap of the design presentation of the Obama presidential campaign by Sol Sender at the Art Directors club moderated by Steven Heller.
The ‘O’ in Obama
November 21, 2008
Steven Heller’s latest Campaign Stops blog post takes a look at the design of the Barack Obama logo through an interview with Sol Sender, the designer responsible for the campaign logo.
At the Invent-o-Drome
November 7, 2008
Heller reviews Bruce McCall’s latest book Marveltown for the New York Times Sunday Book Review.
In Praise of the Anthropomorphic
November 7, 2008
Steven Heller looks at the possibility of Anthropormorphism as being the next ’big thing‘ in illustration. Read his latest post for Design Observer here.
Give Your Logo Power Beyond Words
November 5, 2008
Steven Heller was asked to chime in an article written on BNET.com regarding the success of Barack Obama’ logo in his presidential campaign.
Icons of Graphic Design Italian Translation
November 3, 2008
Steven Heller and Mirko Ilic’s Icons of Graphic Design has been released in the Italian Translation from Logos Books.
Iron Fists at the 2008 Frankfurt Bookfair
October 31, 2008
Steven Heller’s latest book with Phaidon Press; Iron Fits: Branding the 20th Century Tolitarian State was featured nicely by Phaidon at the 2008 Frankfurt bookfair.
The Last Loving Parody of the First Family
October 21, 2008
Appearing in Issue 37 of Stop Smiling Magazine: The DC Issue, Steven Heller looks the The First Family, an sateric album from stand-up comic Vaughn Meader that took aim at the Kennedy administration. Read the article here.
This Election’s Poster Child
October 21, 2008
Steven Heller brings attention to a variety of different online organizations headed by designers and artists to create a visual campaign in support of Barack Obama, for his latest New York Times Campaign Stops blog post.
modernism 101: Design and Style: 7 Volume Set
October 20, 2008
The website modernism 101 is offering a complete set of the legendary Paper Promotion Design and Style from Mohawk Paper Mills and The Pushpin Group. Click here to learn more.
Breakdowns: A Review
October 14, 2008
In his latest post for Design Observer, Steven Heller reviews Art Spiegelman’ latest book Breakdowns.
Picturing Politics
October 10, 2008
Steven Heller will be taking part in the upcoming symposium Picturing Politics presented by the illustration program at Parsons The New School for Design on November 15, 2008. To learn more about the event, click here.
What’s in a website?
October 9, 2008
Steven Heller talks with seven interactive design experts and information architects in examining the Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s websites for his latest New York Times Campaign Stops blog post.
Go West, Young Art Director
October 1, 2008
Steven Heller takes a look at the inspirational and innovative work of the storied weekly supplement of the Los Angeles Times–West, art directed by Mike Salisbury. Read latest post for Design Observer and be sure to checkout the great slideshow of cover and editorial work archived as part of the post.
MFA in Social Documentary Film Launched
September 26, 2008
As part of the new programs committee at the School of Visual Arts, Steven Heller worked with Maro Chermayeff to help launch SocDoc.
(Real) Life in a Speech Balloon
September 20, 2008
Heller reviews Art Spiegelman’s first anthology of autobiographical and experi- mental comics—Breakdowns for Moment Magazine.
Drawing the V.P. Candidates
September 13, 2008
Steven Heller asked several political cartoonists and caricaturists to share their views on the presidential candidates running mates in his latest post for the New York Times Campaign Stops.
Un Sedicesimo
September 13, 2008
Steven Heller and Louise Fili have teamed up to produce the September/October 2008 issue of Un Sedicesimo, a gallery on paper, which proposes a new personal exhibition every two months, six times a year.
Where Have You Gone R. Cobb?
September 12, 2008
Steven Heller takes a look at the influential illustration and cartooning work of R. Cobb from the 1960s in his latest post for Design Observer.
Propaganda R Us
September 5, 2008
Heller talks with Studio360’ Kurt Anderson about his latest book In Iron Fists: Branding the 20th-Century Totalitarian State. Heller describes how four famous tyrannies (the Nazi party, Stalin, the Italian Fascists, and Mao's Communist Party) used architecture and design for propaganda and control. You can listen to the show at the Studio360 link or visit the Podcast page of this site.
Back Story With The Times’s Steven Heller
September 5, 2008
The Times’ Steven Heller on the design and theatrics behind the political conventions in Back Story. You can also access the same podcast on the Podcast Page of this site.
Objectify Me: Steven Heller on Paul Rand’s Can
September 5, 2008
Steven Heller looks at an early 1950s cigar can and graphic designed by Paul Rand for El Producto. Read his post on the Objectified blog.
Hack 2 School: Drom Drop Off
September 2, 2008
Heller presents his strategic steps to help parents and students make the dorm room move in as smooth as possible through design. Check out Heller’s plan of action in his post for Core 77’s Hack 2 School special edition.
The No-Frills Convention
August 28, 2008
The Republicans are taking a modest, stately approach to stagecraft in St. Paul. And that might be just what their voters want. Steven Heller takes a look at visual presentation of the RNC for his latest New York Times Campaign Stops post.
Canned Laughter
August 22, 2008
Branding of porta-potties for Design Observer.
Clipping Art, One Engraving At a Time
August 15, 2008
Heller takes a trip down memory lane in his latest Design Observer post after digging up several old Dover clip art books from his graphic library, in doing so looks at the history of clip art and it’s many uses.
ICON5 Podcasts are posted
August 11, 2008
Check out the podcasts from ICON5, Steven Heller interviews Gary Panter, James Jean, Mitch Nash, Stanley Hainsworth and Stephanie Plunkett.
Cover Stories
August 10, 2008
Steven Heller looks at how some authors not only get to accept or reject designs of their book covers, but also get to choose the designer in his latest essay for The New York Times Book Section. Heller looks at three designer/author relationships with great chemistry.
Designs on power
August 10, 2008
Steven Heller shows how Mao has far outlasted other 20th century dictators as a graphic icon in his country for the Los Angeles Times Op Ed section. You can view the article here, or download a copy.
2 More Reviews of Iron Fists
August 5, 2008
Esquire Magazine’s Book Blog gives a review of Heller’s Iron Fists: Branding the 20th Century Tolitarian State. IconEye also posted a reivew of the book today.
Vanity Fair Type: 1930 Style
August 1, 2008
Heller takes a look at the inspiring use of typography in Vanity Fair Magazine in the 1930s for Design Observer.
Commercial modernism Teague’s modernistic gem gave Kodak a distinct visual personality
July 30, 2008
The Summer 2008 issue of Eye, no. 68, goes ‘Beyond the canon’ to question and to enlarge the accepted pantheon of graphic design history; here Steven Heller reminds us of a forgotten ‘modernistic gem’.
Steven Heller interviewed on NY1
July 27, 2008
Steven Heller was interviewed by Sam Roberts of NY1 and talks about his latest book Iron Fits: Branding the 20th-Century Tolatarian State from Phaidon Press. You can watch the interview here or visit the Podcasts page of this site..
Iron Fists reviewed in The New York Times
July 25, 2008
Steven Heller's latest book Iron Fits: Branding the 20th-Century Tolatarian State from Phaidon Press is reviewed in the New York Times click here to download a copy of the review.
Photography changes the look and content of magazines
July 24, 2008
Steven Heller looks back at how photography changed the both the look and content of magazines for click! a project presented by the Smithsonian Photography Initiative.
Steven Heller and David Womack: The Good The Bad And The Ugly in Digital Design
July 24, 2008
David Womack and Steven Heller are interviewed by Johanna Lenader for Notes on Design regarding their latest book collaboration Becoming a Digital Designer from Wiley Press.
Stuck on Lapel Pins
July 14, 2008
Steven Heller asked several designers and illustrators to offer up suggestions for lapel pin concepts for presidential candidate Barack Obama in his latest NY Times Campain Stops post.
American Icons: Or How Trade Characters Rule the World
July 8, 2008
How did a former trademark become a powerful symbol for America? Heller ponders the branding of a nation in his latest post for AIGA Voice.
Design awards for museum publications
July 7, 2008
The School of Visual Arts won top honors in the AAM’s annual design competition for the poster for Steven Heller: The Masters Series, and three honorable mentions for the invite and catalog for that show, and the catalog for Click Chic: The Fine Art of Fashion Photography. Here’s an excerpt from the article in Museum magazine, which just came out:
The Master Series: Steven Heller, by the Visual Arts Museum at the School of Visual Arts, New York, won first prize for marketing in the less than $750,000 category. This timeline of the history of graphic design uses the spine of design books to represent each year. Rodney Williams declared, “It should hang on the walls of every graphic design class in the world.” He and the other judges also liked the way the design concept worked as a marketing piece and catalogue.
The wins put SVA in the company of National Gallery of Art, Freer Gallery of Art/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution and U.C. Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive—among the other winners. The competition is the only national, juried event involving publications produced by museums of all kinds and sizes. The details can be viewed online.
The Design Entrepreneur
June 29,2008
Steven Heller and Lita Talarico have teamed up and co-authored a new upcoming book from Rockport books as part of their Design Field Guides series titled The Design Entrepreneur: Turning Graphic Design into Goods that Sell. The book will be on shelves in September of this year. Learn more and preorder here.
Best and Worst of the Web
June 26, 2008
Steven Heller joins a panel of 14 other design and interactive professsionals asked by Business Week to find out which website designs they rate and which ones they hate. Read their 10 commandments of design, and check out the slide show of the webs’ best and worst.
Be sure to also check out the podcast interview with Steve as he discusses the evolution of digital design and the challenges facing both those building Web-based businesses and those charged with designing them. You can also find the same media file on the Podcast page of this site.
How Not to Be Motivated
June 25, 2008
Can design nirvana be achieved through the motivational teachings of an uber-guru? Heller meditates on the matter in his latest post for AIGA Voice.
Branding Youth in the Totalitarian State
June 24, 2008
Steven Heller looks at the role that graphics and visual images played in communicating to a young auidence in Totalitarian Regiemes for Designe Observer for a piece that has been adapted from his upcoming book Iron Fists: Branding the Totalitarian State (Phaidon Press).
Ironweed
June 11, 2008
Read Steven Heller’s contribution of Ironweed by William Kennedy to the 2008 Coudal Partners Field Tested collection.
Gather ’Round Designers
June 11, 2008
Steven Heller blogs about the war of political memorabilia being offered by the candidates for NPRs Blog of the Nation.
Do Campaign Buttons Represent the Candidate?
June 11, 2008
Steven Heller talks about the plethora of political merchandise offered by the presidential candidates and what it says about them on NPR.
TypoBerlin YouTube interview with Steven Heller
June 5,2008
Thorsten Wulff has posted a video interview with Steven Heller at TypoBerlin 2008. Heller talks about his fabricated interview with Steve Jobs, his love for his new MacBook Air and what the impact that technology and specifically the Mac has had on the design community and industry.
Heller at TypoBerlin
June 1,2008
Steven Heller presents at TypoBerlin 2008.
Campaign Mementos
May 27,2008
Steven Heller invited a group of designers to create momentos for each of the presidential candiates that move past the cliched and sterotypical offerings of their website. Check out the conceptual and witty concepts presented in this lastest installment of the New York Times Campaing Stops.
O.H.W. Hadank: The Classicist Even a Modernist Could Love
May 22,2008
In another post for Design Observer, Steven Heller looks at the intricately crafted work of German Designer O.H.W. Hadank.
One Leg Leads to Another
May 21,2008
Steven Heller looks at the evolution of the human leg as a graphic framing device in design. Check out the 10 visual slide shows posted on Print Magazine's website.
enseñar & aprender diseño gráfico
May 20,2008
The Spanish translation of The Education of Graphic Designer has hit the shelves.
From Mousepads to Piggy Banks
May 4,2008
Steven Heller’ most recent New York Times Campaign Stops post takes a look at the presidential candidates’ merchandising efforts.
The Sky Is Falling
May 1,2008
Steven Heller takes a look at the visual history and interest surrounding the topic of “end game” or gloom and doom scenaiors for his most recent post on Design Observer.
McCain’s Optimum Look
April 21,2008
What can a type face say about a presidential candidate? Steven Heller talks with 14 different designers about Republican front runner John McCain's use of the font Optima his campaign. Read more at The New York Times Campaign Stops.
Missing Component
April 15,2008
Heller questions why restaurant critics do not take the opporutnity to give a nod to the element of visual design in a dining experience in his latest column for Metropolis Magazine.
Underground Mainstream
April 10,2008
Steven Heller tackles the complex topic of appropriation of avante garde design into mainstream works in his latest Design Observer piece.
The Spin Master
April 10,2008
In his lastest New York Times Campaign Stops column, Steven Heller talks to political brand master Jon Houston about what it takes to help steer candidates through the political gauntlet.
Al Gore's New Logo
April 6,2008
Steven Heller looks at the new logo for Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection in this weeks New York Times Week in Review.
To the Letter Born
April 2,2008
Steven Heller interviews Brian Collins, a branding expert on the design strategy being used by Barack Obama, in his latest New York Times Campaign Stops column.
Interview with Geotypografika
April 1,2008
Jenny Tondera of the blog Geotypografika interviews Steven Heller on “New Typography” and the influence of the Bauhaus in modernist design today.
Stephen Savage Illustration
March 31,2008
Illustrator, Stephen Savage will be the recipient of a gold medal at Society of Illustrators for his needlepoint portrait of Steven Heller. To learn more click here.
The Pursuit of Design: Cause/Effect, Design As Change Agent
March 26,2008
On December 15, 2007, Steven Heller along with a group of other designers and artists gathered at Parsons The New School for an event titled “Design As Change Agent” to discuss how design can be a powerful agent for change on both the local and global levels. Along with moderating the event, Heller gave a presentation titled “Intervention: The Design of Dissent.” You can view the video here.
Ron Paul's Graphics Revolution
March 25,2008
In his latest New York Times commentary on the 08 presidential campaign, Steven Heller looks at the DIY graphic efforts in favor of Republican candidate Ron Paul. Read the latest Campaign Stops post here.
The Magic of the Peace Symbol
March 24,2008
In his latest Design Observer post, Steven Heller gives a brief history of the peace symbol created by British textile designer, Gerald Holtom for use by England's Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) 50 years ago.
Drawing the Candidates
March 17,2008
Steven Heller looks at how the public preception of presdiential candidates can be impacted by caricatures and illustration. In his latest New York Times 2008 Campaing Stops Opinion post, Heller asked four illustrations: Barry Blitt, Steve Brodner, Anita Kunz, and Rick Meyerowitz to describe the most critical features of the 08 candidates.
Swastika Humor?
March 05,2008
In his most recent post for Design Observer, Steven Heller looks at cartoonist Sam Gross’ attempt of making light of the swastika used as the Nazi logo in his lastest collection of cartoons titled We Have Ways of Making You Laugh: 12 Funny Swastika Cartoons.
Selling the Sixties
February 27,2008
Steven Heller is featured in the BBC Film Selling the Sixties a documentary about how the advertising men and women of Madison Avenue came to prominence in the early 1960s.
Pretty Ugly
February 24,2008
In his latest Visuals column for The New York Times, Steven Heller reviews new visual books about the Mad magazine cartoonist Basil Wolverton; Hergé, the creator of Tintin; Times Square; and art deco in Havana.
You can also check out a narriated visual slide show of these books here.
The Mind of a Collector Video
February 23,2008
View the video from the 2007 Philoctetes Center roundtable discussion titled The Mind of the Collector with panelists Leah Dilworth, Eric Edelman, Steven Heller, Dorothy Globus, Bill Scanga and Tyler Volk.
Beyond Red, White and Blue
February 15,2008
Steven Heller chimes in for the New York Times Opinion section on truly unique campaign graphics versus the conventional imagery typically used.
Masters Series Exhibit Site
February 7,2008
A website covering the 2007 School of Visual Arts Masters Series honoring Steven Heller has been launched. You'll find videos from his contributors, photos of the exhbit and opening reception, as well as the interview with Michael Bierut and more.
Pre-ORDER Iron Fists
February 3, 2008
The long gestating book by Steven Heller is entering the birth canal. Pre-orders can be made at Amazon.com. In this upcoming book Iron Fists: Branding the totalitarian State, Steven Heller offers a historical analysis of totalitarian regimes through the lens of graphic design. The book describes how major dictatorships throughout history have used graphics and design to propagate their ideologies. From Mussolini to Nazi Germany to Lenin, totalitarian regimes maintain themselves in political power by means of propaganda (among other tactics) disseminated through the state-controlled mass media. Heller dissects these graphics using the language of contemporary branding.
The Hand is Back
January 30,2008
Steven Heller, talks about the overly popular return of hand lettering in his latest post for A Brief Message.com.
Symposium on Propaganda set for February 15
January 30,2008
Steven Heller, Stuart Ewen and Mary Jeys are organizers of WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, a symposium on Propaganda Today. Click here to register in advance.
Wilhelm Deffke: Modern Mark Maker
January 24,2008
In his latest post on Design Observer Steven Heller examines the work of designer Wilhelm Deffke.
Emigre Interview
January 23,2008
Steven Heller’s critical article "The Cult of the Ugly," published in the British design magazine Eye, has received (and is still receiving) more response than any other article published in Eye. In an interview first published in 1994 in Emigre #30, Michael Dooley speaks with Steven Heller about the impact of his article.
Panel Discussion on Humorous Illustration
January 18,2008
Steven Heller delivers the 10th Anniversary Jack Davis distinguished visiting artist lecture on March 6th at the Student Learning Center at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at The University of Georgia at Athens. For more inforamtion and directions email: artinfo@uga.edu.
Iron Graphics: Branding Totalitarian States
December 27, 2007
On Friday, January 11, 2008, Steven Heller will be giving a presentation to the Art Directors Club of Metropolotian Washington at The United States Navy Memorial.
Steven Heller will offer a historical analysis of the state of the leading twentieth century totalitarian regimes through the lens of graphic design. With research from his current book, Iron Fists: Branding the Totalitarian State (Phaidon Press, Spring 2008), Heller describes how major dictatorships in modern history used graphics and design to propagate their ideologies. From Mussolini to Nazi Germany to Lenin, totalitarian regimes maintain themselves in political power by means of propaganda (among other tactics) disseminated through the state-controlled mass media. Heller dissects these graphics using the language of contemporary branding.
To learn more about this event, including how to register, click here.
Whatıs In A Name?
December 27, 2007
Steven Heller comments on bloggers use of pseudonyms in posting online in his most recent installment on Design Observer.
It's Easy to Criticize… Not
December 19, 2007
In his latest post for Design Observer, Steven Heller examines the critical commentary on design's do-goodery put forth by Vanity Fair media critic Michael Wolff at Designism 2:0.
The Education of a Comic Artist Acknowledged
December 10, 2007
Blogger emonome recently acquired The Education of A Comics Artist, written by Michael Dooley and Steven Heller and has posted a very detailed review on his blog emonome.com.
Holiday Book Review: The Latest Visuals Column
December 2, 2007
In his latest Visuals Column for the New York Times, Steven Heller reviews 9 rich visual books for this holiday season including: James Aulichıs War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication (Thames & Hudson, Street Art and the War on Terror: How the Worldıs Best Graffiti Artists Said No to the Iraq War(Rebellion/Trafalgar Square), Vietnam Zippos (University of Chicago), José Lorente Cascalesıs Rolling Paper Graphics (Gingko), Stephen J. Eskilsonıs Graphic Design: A New History (Yale University), Mark Ovendenıs Transit Maps of the World (Penguin), Laetitia Wolffıs Massin (Phaidon), AGI: Graphic Design Since 1950 (Thames & Hudson), edited by Ben Bos and Elly Bos, Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist (Yale University/Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas), edited by Susan Earle, and Iconic America: A Roller-Coaster Ride Through the Eye-Popping Panorama of American Pop Culture (Universe), by Tommy Hilfiger with George Lois .
Steven Heller Comments on Layer Tennis
November 16, 2007
Steve Heller makes a guest appearance on the Coudal Partners website to comminate on a match of Photoshop Layer Tennis between Aaron Draplin and David Nakamoto. To find out who wins and what Steve really thinks of the game of tennis, vist the Coudal Partners website.
Interview with WNPRs Faith Middleton
November 15, 2007
Faith Middleton of WNPR talks with Steve Heller about his exhibition at SVA, typography, the topic of how posters have changed in their roll of communication as well as his career as a designer, author, critic and collector.
Steven Heller at the Core 77 Event: Design, Wit, and the Creative Act
November 12, 2007
Steven Heller presented a short visual catalogue called “20 Things That Make Me Chuckle.” Included in the eclectic roundelay were Homer Simpson, Mother Teresa Breath Spray, Mickey Mouse, and "anything with f--k in it. You can read more about the event here.
Basline Magazine Congratulates Steve Heller
November 12, 2007
Baseline Magazine has posted a page on their site recognizing Steven Heller and his recent Masters Series exhibit at SVA.
Magical Mysteries
November 11, 2007
Steven Heller reviews 3 new children's books for the New York Times Book Review; Puff, The Magic Dragon By Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton, American Dreaming How Youth Changed Ameria in the Sixties by Laban Carrick Hill, and YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! The Beatles, Beatlemania, and the Music That Changed the World. By Bob Spitz.
Steven Heller Profiled by Mad.co.uk
November 1, 2007
Steven Heller is constantly ’on“, and always has a range of book projects on the go. Liz Farrelly of Mad.co.uk marvels at his ceaseless energy, as he is honoured by a show at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Two More Interviews with Steve Heller
October 30, 2007
Read two more interviews with Steve Heller, the SVA Blog, CRIT interviewed Steve on his early morning tendencies, while Treehugger.com briefly talked to Steve about his role as a design thinker.
Heller Week on Unbeige.com
October 26, 2007
The design blog unbeige.com from Media Bistro covered this weeks happenings with Steve Heller (affectionately referring it to Heller Week) including the opening of his exhibit and his discussion with Michael Bierut. Catch some of the classic sound bites from their conversation.
You can download a copy of the exhibition catalog here or vist the Catalogs page of this site.
The Talented Mr. Heller
October 24, 2007
Paper Cuts, the New York Times blog about all things book related featured Steve Heller in today’s post and his exhibition currently on view at the Visual Arts Gallery.
White is the New White
October 24, 2007
Heller looks at the roll of white in design in A Brief Message.
Steven Heller Masters Series Exhibition a the School of Visual Arts Opens
October 22, 2007
Curated and designed by Kevin O’Callaghan, chair of 3D Design at SVA, the exhibition highlights the inspiration and collaboration behind Heller’s many achievements as a writer and art director. On view are over 100 covers of The New York Times Book Review that Heller art directed and a visual anthology of his major publications, with select volumes available to peruse. An adjacent video installation features interviews with co-authors Mirko Ilic, Lita Talarico (co-chair of the MFA Design Department at SVA), Seymour Chwast, Marshall Arisman (chair of the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Department at SVA) and Gail Anderson (on the faculty of the MFA Design Department at SVA) about their collaborative process. Nearby, visitors can browse Hellerıs many contributions to American and foreign periodicals at a full-scale replica of a New York City newsstand. The centerpiece of the multimedia display will be a larger-than-life photo montage of Hellerıs library with recorded commentary about his collection of design ephemera and its role in his research and writing. In a series of video podcasts specially commissioned for the exhibition, Heller discusses design in the context of popular culture, politics and history.
The Exhibit is on display from October 22 - December 8, 2007 at The Visual Arts Museum located at 209 East 23 Street, New York, NY 10010
Gothamist interview with Steve Heller
October 22, 2007
Steve talks to Jill Priluck of the Gothamist about his love of New York, his career and his retrospective at the School of Visual Art's Visual Arts Museum.
New Books from Steve Heller.
October 17, 2007
Steven Heller has added to his growing catalog of books with 4 new titles, including an introduction for Debbie Millman's new book How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer, an introduction for Meggs: Making Graphic Design History, New Vintage Type: Classic Fonts for the Digital Age a collaborative effort with designer Gail Anderson as well as Becoming a Digital Designer: A Guide to Careers in Web, Video, Broadcast, Game and Animation Design; another collaborative effort, this time with Adobe Think Tank editor David Womack.
Interview with Steve Heller
October 4, 2007
Ben Kessler of Graphics.com interviews Steve Heller on his next book Iron Fists: Branding the Totalitarian State, due next year from Phaidon and talks about his upcoming retrospective exhibition at the School of Visual Arts Museum (October 22 through December 8, 2007).
Decorative Books: The End of Print
September 27, 2007
Steve Heller examines the topic of bookdecor having rediscovered a 1956 book/zine titled The New York Times Shows You 65 Ways to Decorate with Books in Your Home and questions what will happen with all of our printed matters as digital technology continues to grow.
Heller Calls New Taxis Tacky
September 25, 2007
Steve Heller weighs in on the redesign of the New York City Taxi logo by Smart Design.
Words Into Type
September 9, 2007
Steve Heller reviews 5 new books for the New York Times Sunday Book Review, including: BARNBROOK BIBLE: The Graphic Design of Jonathan Barnbrook, VIGNELLI: From A to Z, FLY NOW! A Colorful Story of Flight From Hot Air Balloon to the 777 “Worldliner”, REN BINET: From Nature to Form, and BEARS from Kent Rogowski. You can also check out a podcast from the Times with Steve Heller hosted by Sam Tanenhaus.
Dorm Drop-Off: Making a Nightmare into a Dream
September 5, 2007
Steve Heller draws on his decades of acquired design know-how and lessons learned to give strategic steps to help ease the move-in process for college students for Core 77's Hack-to-School.
Is Illustration a Big Enough Profession?
September 4, 2007
In the latest issue of Varoom Magazine, Steven Heller argues that commercial illustration has reached a critical point in its evolution. Heller notes that there are more illustrators than ever before. But his concern is not with quantity, but with quality.
Heller's Iron Fists
September 4, 2007
At Berlinĵs Typo conference, Gerrit Terstiege interviewed keynote speaker Steven Heller, author and editor of more than 100 design books, about one of his biggest projects, the book “Iron Fists Branding the Totalitarian State”.
An Inconvenient Truth
September 4, 2007
A brief message from Steve Heller questioning the continued lifespan of print.
MFA Design Criticism
September 1, 2007
Steve Heller and Alice Twemlow launch the MFA Design Critism program at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
How Do We Make Our Mark?
August 15, 2007
Steve Heller and Jessica Helfland take a look at the history, methods and styles of penmanship with Good Magazine
How Do We Understand Each Other?
August 14, 2007
Steve Heller teams up with Brian Collins to write about accessible graphic icons for Good Magazine
Design Criticism MFA
August 13, 2007
This past spring, The School of Visual Arts announced the birth of a new Masters study in Design Criticism, to begin fall of 2008. Steven Heller is helping to develop the curriculum with Alice Twemlow, who will also be the chair of the department. Focusing on such a specific topic in criticism might seem risky, but as CRIT sat down to speak with Steve and Alice there was a sense of energy and overwhelming enthusiasm from the design community at large (even the proposed Faculty list reads like an AIGA town-hall meeting), and suggestions of new formats and discussions for the way we act and react to design.
Parachute Drop. Steve Heller on Studio 360
July 22, 2007
Steve Heller tells the story of a seaside landmark known as the “Eiffel Tower of Coney Island ” on Kurt Anderson's Studio360.
Leon Friend: One Teacher, Many Apostles
July 21, 2007
Steve Heller writes on the work of high school teacher Leon Friend whose curriculum placed the applied arts in both an historical and practical context.
Guess Who?
July 20, 2007
Steve Heller writes the introduction for Guess Who? The Many Faces of Noma Bar.
Steve Heller talks about his career as an art director with the New York Times
July 11, 2007
Zina Saunders interviews and illustrates Steve Heller for Drawger.com.
Satiric Interview with iPhone Master Gets Mixed Reviews
July 3, 2007
Heller's fake interview with Steve Jobs confuses some, angers others, and pleases those in the know. Read the original AIGA Voice post here.
Heller on YouTube
June 25, 2007
If you missed it the first, second, and third times it was aired on CBS Sunday Morning, here's your chance to see me, Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones again in living YouTube color - presenting Font Design.
Heller cites W.A. Dwiggins' as major inspiration
June 22, 2007
In Grafik magazine's anniversary special brick of a volume of personal influences, Steven Heller cites Dwiggins as a personal influence.
Martin Weber in the Third Dimension
June 19, 2007
Steven Heller profiles Martin Jack Weber, inventor of Posterization on Design Observer
Serious Fun
June 6, 2007
Steven Heller writes on the latest exhibit from the School of Visual Arts MFA Design program "Serious Fun." The SVA MFA Designer as Author class of 2008 tackels kid's stuff in the real world, addressing social issues in the form of children's toys. The show was curated by Kevin O'Callaghan and co-curated by Steven Heller and Lita Talarico.
Steve Heller in the New York Times Book Review Podcast
May 31, 2007
Steven Heller will appear in this Friday's (June 1, 2007) New York Times Book Review Podcast. Also, be on the lookout for his second VISUALS column that will appear in this Sunday's Summer Reading issue of the Book Review.
Paul Rand Poster Exhibition
May 30, 2007
Steven Heller on the work of designer Paul Rand in the 18th International Poster and Graphic Arts Festival of Chaumont.
New Nose on WAR
May 29, 2007
The latest of Seymour Chwast's The NOSE (#15) edited by Steven Heller includes a list of every war since 3300 BC and a visual history of the "well-dressed soldier"
The Anatomy of Design Reviewed by B92 Kultura
May 11, 2007
See the review here.
The Nazi Triangle
April 16, 2007
Steve Heller writes on the the inverted triangle design and Nazi identification systems on Design Observer.
Heller talks about Big Boy on Studio 360
April 13, 2007
Steve Heller champions the Big Boy restaurant trademark on Design For the Real World on Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen (on WNYC at 10 a.m./Saturday on FM and 7 p.m./Sunday on AM. Listen to the archieved radio cast here. You will need Real Player in order to listen to all casts from the Studio 360 archives.
Steven Heller to speak at Typo Berlin: May 17 - 19 2007
April 9, 2007
TYPO is a showcase for graphic, motion, web, game, typography, sound, corporate and boundless design, from all over the world, compacted and condensed into a 3-day programme, in three parallel series of discussion themes. Read the FontBlog post here.
“Visuals” launches April 8
April 6, 2007
Steven Heller's quarterly New York Times Book Review column, “Visuals,” covering books on visual culture (and that includes design) begins.
Steven Heller interviews Sara Fanelli in the new issue of Varoom
April 6, 2007
In the latest issue of Varoom Magazine, Steven Heller interview the celebrated book illustrator Sara Fanelli who draws from a rich gene pool of mythology, literature, art and playfulness. Her philosophically inclined imagination has created a body of work that challenges and delights in equal measure.
New Books from Steven Heller
March 28, 2007
Shop America: Midcentury Storefront Design 1938-1950 edited by Jim Heimann with introduction by Steven Heller is now in Stores.
Teaching Motion Design edited by Steven Heller and Michael Dooley is set for release in Fall 07
Heller Talks on Taxi
March 28, 2007
Heller, Sagmeister, and Kidd give good tips in interviews with Design Taxi
Dissecting Designers: An Interview with Steven Heller
March 16, 2007
Heller talks about his book with Mirko Ilic, The Anatomy of Design:Uncovering the Influences and Inspirations in Modern Graphic Design in an interview by Craig Schlanser of AIGA Philadelphia.
Heller, Helfand, and Drenttel in New Orleans.
March 11, 2007
What a thrill it was to spend time with AIGAers and students at their first portfolio review since Katrina. Their good will and courage is an inspiration.
Heller writes introduction for Chermayeff & Geismar exhibition in Turkey
March 10, 2007
Chermayeff & Geismar: Symbols, logotypes and graphic design from the last five decades The galleries of Pera Museum host the works of outstanding artist and friend, Ivan Chermayeff and his esteemed partner Tom Geismar, who are the distinguished guests of the Museum and of Turkey. Jan 1 - July 1 2007.
Considered as one of the most brilliant graphic designers of the 20th century, Ivan Chermayeff has created a number of truly memorable designs with his partner Tom Geismar and has honored our country several times with his presence.
Through his unique and exceptional works on the emblem, logo and corporate identity designs of KoÁ Holding and various other KoÁ companies, he has made it possible for the names of these institutions, and by extension of Turkey, to be acknowledged by the world of design.
The Daily Heller
March 9, 2007
Tidbits and more from a curious mind.
Hello, Sucker
March 4, 2007
Louise Fili and Steven Heller design lace lettering for William Safire's column "On Language" in the New York Times Magazine.
Heller Responds to Students
March 1, 2007
Every week I get requests from students to answer their various queries about life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the profession. This series of questions from a student in Leeds, England, was one of the most challenging so I am posting the exchange for the benefit of all:
1. It has been said that illustration occupies a space between art and design. If this is the case then it was perfectly placed to combine technology with more traditional crafts. Why do you think that illustration failed to embrace technology in comparison to graphic design and photography?
Illustration is mostly hand-work (or at least traditionally so). Most artists who practice are indeed artists with strong ties to classical methods. That said, I frankly don’t think that illustration was that late in embracing technologies. I know many illustrators who jumped aboard instantly, while others took longer. Mirko Ilic is a terrific example of one who work solely with laborious hand techniques and then pioneered laborious computer techniques. The intelligence of the work is the constant, the media have changed, but one is an extension of the other. Of course, there are still MANY who are painting, drawing, engraving, and collaging still. Art is about many things, and the artists voice embraces many media.
Graphic design has long been more a craft than art, and therefore had to embrace the current craft tools. And photography was always mechanical. Clearly with digital technology made available to photographers they would jump on the wagon.
2. After the introduction of technology, illustration appeared to fall into a state of decay and remained this way until recently. Do you think that the older generations of illustrators hampered the transition to digital image making due to a lack of understanding?
Not in the least. I think that new technology always has allure, and always brings a level of flux in its wake. I still see great illustrators working with traditional media. But I also see many of the traditionalists adapting their methods, seamless, to the new tools.
3. If illustration hadn’t fallen into decline do you think that stock houses would have become so widely used within the creative industry?
I don’t feel its fallen into decline. I feel its shifted from a basically editorial and advertising based industry or art, to a broader practice that involves typography, animation, etc. Stock houses—which have long existed in the flourishing photography field—were inevitable. More than technology BUDGETS are a big issue. And BUDGETS are connected to the health of the editorial field, which is also in flux. So as far as I’m concerned stock was meant to be, and it has simply put more pressure on illustrators and art directors to be more creative about how they practice.
4. As time progressed culture adapted to the digital way of life, whereas on the other hand illustration made little attempt to adjust (apart for a few exceptions) and declined. Do you think that the root of this problem lay in the lack of creative work being produced or the introduction of technology?
I disagree entirely. We’ve all adapted to the digital. Its our electricity. When artists worked under artificial light as opposed to natural light things changed in terms of form, but it was a natural evolutionary adaptation. I think the same has happened today. Its all a natural re-emphasis. Its not decline per se, but reallocation. Illustration still plays a vital role in visual communications and will continue to do so.
5. A new younger breed of illustrators has emerged recently and is redefining the term illustration, why do you think this is happening now?
Nature and nurture. If it didn’t happen the field would die. Every generation brings new ideas, and a new definition is part of those new ideas.
6. The education of illustrators and graphic designers has changed noticeably in recent years, focusing on the integration of students and the importance of technology. Is there a risk that, with the ever-increasing development of the digital medium, the traditional skills of illustration will be lost?
Possibly some archaic methods will become obsolete. But again, that’s natural. And then, like those who prefer vinyl to CDs to online digital, there will always be those who carry the flame. Same is true in design with letterpress. Its totally arcane, but still lovingly practiced.
Recollections of the Old Monocle Magazine on DesignObserver
February 27, 2007
A whole lot of blog hoopla has been recently generated about Monocle, the spanking new art, culture and issues magazine from Wallpaper’s creator Tyler Brûlé. He’s the guy who brought neo-classic post-European modernism to lifestyle publishing. Although Monocle looks nothing like its predecessor, it promises to be the next new thing in integrated web and in print publishing—a very laudable endeavor to be sure—deserving serious analysis and review. But this is not going to be that. In fact, this is not even an article about Brûlé’s magazine at all—but rather a look back to another, virtually forgotten but decidedly important, magazine with the very same name—one that published under the motto, “In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.”
Steven Heller interviewed on “Design Trends”
February 26, 2007
Steven Heller is interviewed by Gael Towey on her show “Design Trends” on Wednesday, Feb 28, 9 a.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. on Martha Stewart Radio on Sirius Radio
Handwritten reviewed in Atlantic Monthly March 2007
February 14, 2007
In the March 2007 issue of the Atlantic, Terry Castle ponders The Next Existential Question: What Font? by reviewing a few instructive and seductive volumes of fontmania including Handwritten by Steven Heller and Mirko Ilic. Click here to read the article.
Steven Heller Examines the Mushroom Cloud Symbol
February 7, 2007
In the January/February 2007 issue of the Bulletin, Doomsday Clock creator Martyl is featured in a review of the image’s evolution and impact. Author and graphic designer Steven Heller looks at the mushroom cloud symbol and how it became the indelible symbol of terror in the nuclear age. Click here to read the article.
New Vinatage Type book Coming Soon
February 5, 2007
New Vintage Type is a critical survey of how modern artwork uses old type to evoke another time and place. Organized into five chapters by historical period, the book features hundreds of lively examples that prove that our type heritage has a place in the colorful graphic world of today. Steven Heller and Gail Anderson
The Anatomy of Design Featured in Media Marketing
February 1, 2007
The Anatomy of Design by Steven Heller and Mirko Ilic was featured in the Bosnian Advertising Magazine Media Markting.Download a PDF
UnBeige Interview
January 29, 2007
UnBeige editor Alissa Walker turns the tables and asks “So What Do You Do, Steven Heller?”
I Am Plastic Book Review
January 27, 2007
In “I Am Plastic: The Designer Toy Explosion,” Paul Budnitz, founder of Kidrobot, one of the most prodigious retailers of designer toys in the United States, and co-creator of the Dunny doll, showcases many of the more adventurous toy designers and their wares.
Chinese Edition of Becoming A Graphic Designer
January 26, 2007
The third edition of this book from Wiley Press hits the stores
Steven Heller writes about Nazi typography
January 16, 2007
Eye #62 http://www. eyemagazine.com/feature.php?id=134&fid=605
Steven Heller’s Seedy Past Uncovered
January 12, 2007
Download a PDF of a rare article by Claudia Dreifus from New York Scenes, July 1969
Steven Heller Podcast from Art Basel with WPS1 Art Radio
December 21, 2006
Steven Heller, in a conversation with his co-chair of the SVA Designer As Author program, Lita Talarico, designers Stefan Sagmeister and Deborah Buck, and the Wolfsonian Museum’s Cathy Leff. Link Here.
Design and Architecture (DNA) Interview with KcRw
December 19, 2006
Steven Heller talks about artful coffee table books. Hosted by Frances Anderton
Fresh from the Miami sands some blog postings on Miami Art Basel
December 10, 2006
Click on the http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/ site or read the unedited copy below.
Report from Art Basel 4
December 10, 2006
After hanging with us for almost two days, Stefan Sagmeister asked in his lilting Viennese intonation: “Have you seen any art, or do you just eat and party?” Hmmmmm. I pondered. We did visit the Acqua Show (at the Acqua Motel turned completely over to galleries representing emerging artists), but I can't remember anything there, but sitting on a bench eating salted nuts and sipping freshly bottled Miami H2O. So, yes, Stefan was right, the purpose of the trip (I guess), to see art, had thus far eluded us, and NOW was the time to make amends. Shamed, we trekked to the Convention Center (which to my surprise was pretty close to the hotel).
Frankly, the Fair was an overwhelming experience (kinda like the boat show in NYC, except minus the beckoning swim-suit sales girls). As I walked up and down the long, crowded aisles, I was dumfounded by the level and quantity of personal expression. As a designer, we often say we’re bringing “expression” or “voice” to our “solutions” to client’s problems. But this was the real critical mass of unbridled, unfettered, and at times unconventional public selfs. The individual as individual—from Warhol to Harring - from works on paper to video projection—from abstract marks to a simulated (perfectly formed) bleeding dead man on the floor of the Convention center - was there in abundance. So much to see, too much to ponder, though I’m sorry to say not much to comment on (although my favorite piece of art was running into Martha Stewart strolling along, no make-up, no entourage, a walking icon soaking up stationary icons). Frankly, I was not just overwhelmed but dwarfed by the experience, and happy to return to eating and partying if only for another few hours.
Report from Art Basel 3
December 9, 2006
The panel on WPS1 was part of the SVA HOUR at Art Basel. Our half hour goes quick when you're chatting up art and design. The participants were Stefan Sagmeister, designer, Deborah Buck, painter and gallery owner (The Gallery at Buck House), Cathy Leff, director of the Wolfsonian—FIU, and Lita Talarico, co-chair of School of Visual Arts MFA Designer as Author program. I was the moderator (or as the radio folks quaintly called me, “the Host”). We talked about the intersection of art and design—the growing shift in attitude on the part of the art establishment to fudge the boundaries between the disciplines, media, and languages. We discussed art’s recent poaching of design, which of course dates back to the Pop artists, and we nodded to the notion of the “total work of art” that dates back to the Bauhaus. But most of all we discussed where design fits in the scheme of personal versus public expression. As Sagmeister said, “design has to work,” and art just has to be. So how does the art world parse these distinctions, and what benefit to culture is the outcome. Talarico identified an artists’ wall paper project she recently saw in Chelsea as a profound nexus between applied and fine; Buck talked about building curatorial narratives that include both "fine" and applied art—if they fit together, why not fit them together?; and Leff talked about the Wolfie’s interest in the meaning of art and design, and avoiding “art for art” in their collection strategies.
(Art Basel is, of coure, full of that art for art stuff, but refreshingly the Blimp Parade was like a huge designer toy festival, and there was even a show somewhere on Washington Ave devoted designer and artist toys.)
The studio was one of those famous Art Basel containers high atop a foundation container, giving the impression of one of those WWII movie scenes where John Wayne sent a last message to the fleet about enemy positions before being blown to smithereens. The show was broadcast live on a local station and streamed through WPS1.org. It could also be heard through speakers situated at the Art Positions container stagging area. Was anyone listening? Who knows? But with all that art intersecting with design around, who'd be near a radio?
Report from Art Basel 2
December 8, 2006
Well, Unbeige must’ve been read by most of the Art Baselites: The secret revealed, despite our extremely early arrival at the stunning Deco cold storage warehouse that is now the gorgeous Wolfsonian-FIU museum party (http://www.wolfsonian.org/) to celebrate their commissioned, site-specific Lawrence Weiner typographic “murals”, the lobby was packed, with revelling Wolfie friends and admirers filling the exquisite galleries and inspiring book/shop cafe. The superlatives are well deserved. With our strategy to be first at bar and food trays foiled, we jostled for the apricot and pineapple gin fizzes (make mine just fizz) and tasty (the teeny) fingerlickin' good finger food. Fortunately, though, earlier in the day we were given a private guided tour of the permanent collection—especially grand were John Vassos' NYC subway turnstile, the 30s era Magic Chef range, Albert Speer's decorative grate with interlocking swastikas, and well, virtually everything on the floor, walls, and ceiling (to die for). We also spent too brief a time guided - almost like speed dating - through the Wolfsonian's library of design treasures hosted by the erudite librarian Frank Luca. What a thrill it was to be in touching distance from some great print icons, like the Depero Bolted Book and a Weiner Werkstatt fabric swatch book. We also met Mr. Weiner (no relation to Werkstatt) who warmly greeted and introduced us to his lobby installation. What a lovely, unassuming man.
Though it ain’t over yet, since the Wolfsonian generously opened all its galleries for the party (Modernism in Silver was on view), allowing one to at once parteee AND view treasures, this was the best event (and dare I say, the best art) of the entire Fair. Don't get any better than the Wolfie.
Report from Art Basel 1
December 7, 2006
Figured out the best way to go to all these hip parties yet not be jostled, hassled, tussled, and otherwise part of the madding crowd. Go early.
We went to the Yoko Ono party smack at 7 pm as the invitation noted, and only a handful of guests showed up at the ultra modern hotel (can’t remember the name) pool area. Yoko had not arrived either, but appeared repeatedly on a video loop, showing off her ONOCHORD, a small flashlight—given to all party goers—that when clicked in succession, comme ça: 1 click, 2 clicks, 3 clicks, signified I LOVE YOU. Picking up on her perennial GIve Peace A Chance and All You Need Is Love theme, the flashlight conceit is designed to telegraph eternal love to all who see it. Anyway, back to the point. Since Yoko was not yet there, all the comfy chairs and couches were empty, the liquor (and seltzer) flowed—and there were no lines at the bar—so the atmosphere was blissfully easy going. By the time we decided to leave Yoko had arrived, as did all the extremely well made swells and their entourages. We listened to Yoko give a few choice words of wisdom, but left before the throngs, and before she gave a speech, which we saw on video anyway. What a way to parteee.
The other best way to party, is go late. We went to the Moss opening in the design district of Miami, and the throngs had moved elsewhere. While the traffic was horrible, at least one could see the work of designers like hella jongerius and Constantine Boym without being annoyed by other attendees.
Steven Heller interview with Susan Choi of The Believer
December 5, 2006
Steven Heller has long collected artifacts from this “golden age” of pictorial racism. The article (PDF download) contains selections from his collection, accompanied by a conversation with novelist Susan Choi about the images, questions of their relevance today, and Heller’s impulse for collecting them. link to The Believer current issue
Tenth Anniversary Issue of KAK (Moscow)
December 5, 2006
Features profiles and interviews on dozens of designers from the US, Europe and Russia including a showcase of work from Steven Heller (download PDF of article)
Holiday Book Review: Drawing
December 3, 2006
Steven Heller reviews 4 books that highlight the extraordinary drawing skill, style and technique of Saul Steinberg, R. Crumb, Drew Friedman and David Sandlin.
Museum of Sex Exhibit
November 30, 2006
An installation of the Museum of Sex exhibit curated by Joshua Berger and Sarah Dougher at the Campbell Gallery at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. Includes an introduction by Steven Heller.
Opening reception February 14, 2006 6–8 pm
Show runs 2/14/07–3/13/07
Campbell Gallery
Western Oregon University
345 N. Monmouth Ave.
Monmouth, Oregon 97361
The Driver Speaks
November 21, 2006
The Driver Speaks. Article written on Design Taxi about graphic intervention, or how designers critically redress the social, political and cultural grievances of the day.
Steven Heller on Al Goldstein: NY Times Book Review Article
November 19, 2006
Download a PDF of the NY Times Book Review article on Al Goldstein "My Dirty Life and Times" written by Steven Heller. Also included in the PDF is a write up in the Times “Up Front” section.
Steven Heller on Al Goldstein: Podcast
November 19, 2006
Download the NY Times Podcast Interview with Steven Heller on Al Goldstein
“Designs for Playing”
November 12, 2006
Steven Heller’s review of Kids Books "Designs for Playing" in the New York Times Book Review.
“The Education of a Comic Artist”
November, 2006
Recently added to the "Eduction of" series, Steven Heller has completed “The Education of a Comic Artist” Click here to download some more information.