An ode to Milton Glaser. How his work has inspired my own and how he will continue to influencer me going forward.
A few days ago, we lost an icon, someone who exerted a powerful influence on the direction of global graphic design.
Milton Glaser, co-founder of New York Magazine and famed graphic designer behind the "I ♥ NY" logo passed at 91 years old, on his birthday.
Event at a young age, Glaser was someone I idolized. After studying him in Art History in both high school and college, I frequently turned to his work as a source of inspiration. I am so grateful for the imprint he left behind.
Glaser's legacy will live on as being one of the greats, and a true New Yorker.
At the time of his death, Milton Glaser was working on a graphical treatment of the word “Together,” (seen above) to evoke the idea that during the separation of the pandemic, “we have something in common.” — New York Times
Being a formally trained graphic designer, in art school, we were always taught "Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively." In my studies throughout my life and even as I continue to grow my business, Milton has remained one of the most impactful designers on my own craft and his work has always resonated with me.
Here are 3 ways Milton Glaser's work has impacted my own life as a graphic designer:
Being a designer, you are a visual communicator. You conceptualize, create and execute a message that is symbolic. Glaser had this ability to capture a historical moment in time and translate that into art.
I idolized his craft. His work was modern yet traditional and most importantly, always intentional. He knew when to bend the rules and how to bend them so you pause and reflect. The key to success, especially when it comes to art is to make the consumer, stop, think and challenge them.
Typography is it's own art form. Milton was the king of Typography. I appreciated how he used the characteristics of letterforms to really create a masterpiece with the use of negative space, a challenging technique, and the influence of color.
No matter what line of work you're in, who is someone who has inspired you in your career?