Milton Glaser Interview…

I’m sure there are many who would argue that there is no living designer more significant to graphic design than Milton Glaser. Co-founder of the influential Pushpin Studios with Seymour Chwast, Milton is probably best known for his design of the I ♥ NY logo, however, his incredible lifelong catalog of work stretches far beyond that. A New York native, Glaser started his design education at the Cooper Union art school in New York and through a Fulbright scholarship, was able to study fine art in Bolonga, Italy under the painter, Giorgio Morandi. In 1974 (after Pushpin) he established Milton Glaser Inc., and in 1983 along with Walter Bernard he co-created WBMG.

A great breadth of his portfolio includes hundreds of extraordinary poster designs, which in some instances, are part of permanent museum collections. His work is concise, brilliant and appeals to a remarkably wide audience. And in 2004, (to no one’s surprise) Milton was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.

I am honored that he took the time to respond to my inquiry. And thanks to his responses here I think I’ve finally found a definition for graphic design that I like.

TOBIAS:
What is graphic design? How would you define it?

MILTON:
Going from an existing condition to a preferred one through the use of visual material.

TOBIAS:
Who in your opinion is making good design work right now?

MILTON:
The word "good" needs definition to answer this question.

TOBIAS:
I think when I was referring to the word "good" I meant the kind of work that does more than simply express aesthetic beauty. Work that also functions successfully, or perhaps teaches or even changes the way in which people think about something; the kind of design work that "sticks" in your mind for years as innovative, and intelligent.

MILTON:
I hate being put in the positions of ousting some and ignoring others.

TOBIAS:
Who are your design heroes?

MILTON:
William Morris. Joseph Hoffman, Leonardo.

TOBIAS:
What (book/magazine/blog/whatever…) should every graphic designer read?

MILTON:
The Use and Abuse of Art by Jacques Barzan.

TOBIAS:
What advice do you have for design students and design educators?

MILTON:
Keep an open mind. Stay curious.

TOBIAS:
Do you think designers will hold a different place in our culture in the future? If yes; in what ways?

MILTON:
No.

Thanks to Milton for responding.