Σάββατο 26 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009

Discover Paul Rand : The legendary pioneer in Graphic Design (1914-1966)

www.paul-rand.com



Paul Rand: A Brief Biography

Paul Rand (born Peretz Rosenbaum) was a well-known American graphic designer, best known for his corporate logo designs. Rand was educated at the Pratt Institute (1929-1932), the Parsons School of Design (1932-1933), and the Art Students League (1933-1934). He was one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design. From 1956 to 1969, and beginning again in 1974, Rand taught design at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Rand was inducted into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 1972. He designed many posters and corporate identities, including the logos for IBM, UPS and ABC. Rand died of cancer in 1996.



Paul Rand's Exhibition, School of Visual Arts Museum

Early Life & Education


Peretz Rosenbaum was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1914. As Orthodox Jewish law forbids the creation of graven images that can be worshiped as idols, Rand’s career creating icons venerated in the temple of global capitalism seemed as unlikely as any. It was one that he embraced at a very young age, painting signs for his father’s grocery store as well as for school events at P.S. 109. Rand’s father did not believe art could provide his son with a sufficient livelihood, and so he required Paul to attend Manhattan’s Harren High School while taking night classes at the Pratt Institute, though “neither of these schools offered Rand much stimulation.” Despite studying at Pratt and other institutions in the New York area (including Parsons School of Design and the Art Students League), Rand was by-and-large “self-taught as a designer, learning about the works of Cassandre and Moholy-Nagy from European magazines such as [Gebrauchsgraphik].”


Early Carreer
His career began with humble assignments, starting with a part-time position creating stock images for a syndicate that supplied graphics to various newspapers and magazines. Between his class assignments and his work, Rand was able to amass a fairly large portfolio, largely influenced by the German advertising style Sachplakat (ornamental poster) as well as the works of Gustav Jensen. It was at around this time that he decided to camouflage (and abbreviate) the overtly Jewish identity telegraphed by ‘Peretz Rosenbaum,’ shortening his forename to ‘Paul’ and taking ‘Rand’ from an uncle to form his new surname. Morris Wyszogrod, a friend and associate of Rand, noted that “he figured that ‘Paul Rand,’ four letters here, four letters there, would create a nice symbol. So he became Paul Rand.”



Peter Behrens notes the importance of this new title:
“Rand’s new persona, which served as the brand name for his many accomplishments, was the first corporate identity he created, and it may also eventually prove to be the most enduring.”

Indeed, Rand was rapidly moving into the forefront of his profession. In his early twenties he was producing work that began to garner international acclaim, notably his designs on the covers of Direction magazine, which Rand produced for no fee in exchange for full artistic freedom.



Among the accolades Rand received were those of Moholy-Nagy:
" Among these young Americans it seems to be that Paul Rand is one of the best and most capable [. . .] He is a painter, lecturer, industrial designer, [and] advertising artist who draws his knowledge and creativeness from the resources of this country. He is an idealist and a realist, using the language of the poet and business man. He thinks in terms of need and function. He is able to analyze his problems but his fantasy is boundless".



The reputation Rand so rapidly amassed in his prodigious twenties never dissipated; rather, it only managed to increase through the years as the designer’s influential works and writings firmly established him as the eminence grise of his profession.


Although Rand was most famous for the corporate logos he created in the 1950s and 1960s, his early work in page design was the initial source of his reputation. In 1936, Rand was given the job of setting the page layout for an Apparel Arts magazine anniversary issue. “His remarkable talent for transforming mundane photographs into dynamic compositions, which [. . .] gave editorial weight to the page” earned Rand a full-time job, as well as an offer to take over as art director for the Esquire-Coronet magazines. Initially, Rand refused this offer, claiming that he was not yet at the level the job required, but a year later he decided to go ahead with it, taking over responsibility for Esquire’s fashion pages at the young age of twenty-three.

The cover art for Direction magazine proved to be an important step in the development of the “Paul Rand look” that was not as yet fully developed. The December 1940 cover, which uses barbed wire to present the magazine as both a war-torn gift and a crucifix, is indicative of the artistic freedom Rand enjoyed at Direction; in Thoughts on Design Rand notes that it “is significant that the crucifix, aside from its religious implications, is a demonstration of pure plastic form as well . . . a perfect union of the aggressive vertical (male) and the passive horizontal (female).” In ways such as this, Rand was experimenting with the introduction of themes normally found in the “high arts” into his new graphic design, further advancing his life-long goal of bridging the gap between his profession and that of Europe’s modernist masters.

Corporate Identities
Indisputably, Rand’s most widely known contribution to graphic design are his corporate identities, many of which are still in use. IBM, ABC, Cummins Engine, Westinghouse, and UPS, among many others, owe their graphical heritage to him, though UPS recently carried out a controversial update to the classic Rand design. One of his primary strengths, as Maholy-Nagy pointed out, was his ability as a salesman to explain the needs his identities would address for the corporation.



According to graphic designer Louis Danziger:
" He almost singlehandedly convinced business that design was an effective tool. [. . .] Anyone designing in the 1950s and 1960s owed much to Rand, who largely made it possible for us to work. He more than anyone else made the profession reputable. We went from being commercial artists to being graphic designers largely on his merits".



Editor's Note: "Paul Rand, is one of the few leading designers, who has given the international graphic design community, the professional status and high value, that accelerated the business need for creative and innovative art direction. Leading industries and publications have discovered, through his work, the power of visual communication and invested in corporate identity building, editorial design and social image enchancement. Paul Rand has built, without doubt, a strong and priceless heritage for designers that followed". George Dimopoulos, Hellenic Design Institute, President of the Board

Πέμπτη 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009

HDI : Design Calendar Competition

www.hdi.gr



Με την ευγενική φιλοξενία της Exporama Crossmedia, το Ελληνικό Ινστιτούτο Design παρουσίασε τα επίσημα αποτελέσματα του Πανελλήνιου Διαγωνισμού “Ημερολόγιο Ελληνικού Design” στη Διεθνή Έκθεση "Exporama Show", στο μέγαρο της Helexpo. Τα έργα που διακρίθηκαν φιλοξενήθηκαν σε ειδικά διαμορφωμένη gallery και οι δημιουργοί βραβεύθηκαν σε μια φιλική ατμόσφαιρα. Ακολούθησε coctail party με μουσική και κρασί, ενώ παράλληλα διανεμήθηκαν 100 δωρεάν αντίτυπα του συλλεκτικού λευκώματος δημιουργικότητας "creativebook".

The Hellenic Design Institute, with the kind support of Exporama Crossmedia, presented the official results of the Panhellenic Competition "Greek Design Calendar" during the International Exhibition & Tradeshow "Exporama Show", in Helexpo Palace. The selected artworks were showcased in a special designed gallery and the winners of the competition were awarded in a friendly athmosphere. A nice coctail party, among friends and members of HDI followed with music & wine. During the award ceremony, 100 free copies of "creativebook", a limited edition portfolio published by HDI, were distributed.







Νικητές Διαγωνισμού | Competition Winners

" Aγαπητά Μέλη, Nέοι Δημιουργοί, Φίλοι και Συνάδελφοι, μέσα από μια ξεχωριστή και ευχάριστη διαδικασία επιλογής, στο διαγωνισμό για το "Ημερολόγιο Ελληνικού Design" ξεχώρισαν 12 έργα για την πρωτοτυπία, τη δημιουργική εκτέλεση και την ιδέα. Είμαστε στην ευχάριστη θέση να βραβεύσουμε τους παρακάτω νικητές και πολλά υποσχόμενους σχεδιαστές:

Dear Members, Young Designers, Friends and Colleagues, through an enjoyable and special selection process during the "Greek Design Calendar" competition, 12 artworks were selected for their originallity, creative execution and concept. We are proud to announce and reward the following Competition Winners and most promising designers":

Μαντώ Δαμιραλή | Mando Damiralli,
Γεωργία Ευαγόρου | Georgia Evagorou,
Ιωάννης Φετάνης | Ioannis Fetanis,
Γιώργος Μπουρλέτσικας | George Bourletsikas,
Δέσποινα Μπουρνελέ | Despina Bournele,
Λέανδρος Αργυρόπουλος | Leandros Argyropoulos,
Κλεοπάτρα Νικολάου | Kleopatra Nikolaou,
Παναγιώτης Αγγελωνίτης | Panagiotis Aggelonitis,
Βασίλης Δανδελής | Vasilis Dandelis,
Dennis Spearman,
Delerium and Demi

"Ευχαριστούμε πολύ, όλους τους νέους δημιουργούς για τις ευφάνταστες συμμετοχές τους και ευχόμαστε καλή συνέχεια στο μέλλον τους! Ευχαριστούμε επίσης τους Χορηγούς, που μας βοήθησαν και υποστήριξαν ευγενικά την πρωτοβουλία:

Εκ μέρους του Ελληνικού Ινστιτούτου Design
Γιώργος Δημόπουλος, Πρόεδρος Δ.Σ.

Many thanks to the young designers who submitted incredible artworks, with our best wishes for their future. Many thanks also, to our sponsors, who supported and helped us creating this event":

On Behalf of the Hellenic Design Institute
George Dimopoulos, President of the Board

"Greek Design Calendar" Awards Ceremony Sponsors:

Exporama Crossmedia : www.exporama.com
Polichromo : Large Format Printing : www.polichromo.gr
Mad4Art : Digital Printhouse : www.made4art.gr

HDI : To Golden Drum Festival στο Desicon

www.goldendrum.com



Το HDI, στα πλαίσια του Συνεδρίου DESICON 2007, παρουσίασε για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα τα Βραβεία Δημιουργικότητας του Διεθνούς Φεστιβάλ Διαφήμισης "Golden Drum", σε συνεργασία με τα Επίτιμα Μέλη του HDI, Jack Adamis (επίσημο αντιπρόσωπο) και τον Chief Creative Director και Vice President της SPOT JWT Τάκη Λιαρμακόπουλο, που ήταν και μέλος της κριτικής επιτροπής του διαγωνισμού. To Golden Drum είναι μια διάσημη γιορτή για τους δημιουργικούς και καλλιτεχνικούς διευθυντές, πραγματοποιείται κάθε χρόνο στο Portoroz της Σλοβενίας και συγκεντρώνει συμμετοχές από όλο τον κόσμο.

Ανακαλύψτε το Golden Drum! http://www.goldendrum.com/


Rollercoaster, Silver Drum in Press, McCann Erickson, Romania

In 2007 and during DESICON Conference, the HDI has presented exclusively to the greek audience the Creativity Awards of the International
"Golden Drum" Advertising Festival, in association with HDI Honorary Members, Jack Adamis (Golden Drum Ambassador) and Takis Liarmakopoulos, Chief Creative Director of Spot JWT and Juror of the competition. Golden Drum is a famous celebration for creative and art directors worlwide, that takes place every year in Portoroz of Slovenia.

Discover Golden Drum!
: www.goldendrum.com


Takis Liarmakopoulos, Spot JWT


Kraft & Werk, Damijan Vešligaj, Alen Korda, Dejan Miletič
Title: "Royalty1/3", Slovenija


Jack Adamis, Ashley Worldgroup, Golden Drum Ambassador


Studio360 /The Sign, Vladan Srdič, Tjaša Nabergoj
Title: "Mirror Dance", Country: Slovenija


Look Busy, Calendar, McCann Erickson, Greece


Mercedes SLR Outdoor, Communis, Serbia




Thanks, Nurse, CCP, Heye Werbeagentur, Austria

Τετάρτη 23 Σεπτεμβρίου 2009

DESICON : Greek Design Conference : Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Γραφιστικής και Οπτικής Επικοινωνίας

www.hdi.gr


Το DESICON είναι το Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Γραφιστικής και Οπτικής Επικοινωνίας που διοργανώνεται επίσημα από το Ελληνικό Ινστιτούτο Design. Aπευθύνεται σε νέους σχεδιαστές, φοιτητές και επαγγελματίες της δημιουργικής κοινότητας και διαφημιστικής αγοράς. Το Ελληνικό Συνέδριο Γραφιστικής και Οπτικής Επικοινωνίας έχει παρουσιάσει επαγγελματικές απόψεις, θεωρητικές μελέτες και δημιουργικά projects από 38 κορυφαίους γραφίστες, creative directors, σχεδιαστές ιστοσελίδων και εικονογράφους. To 2007 παρουσίασε σε αποκλειστικότητα τα Βραβεία του Διεθνούς Φεστιβάλ "Golden Drum Festival" με τη συνεργασία των Επίτιμων Μελών του HDI, Jack Adamis και Τάκη Λιαρμακόπουλου.
DESICON is the leading national Graphic Design Conference, officially organised by the Hellenic Design Institute. DESICON address to young creatives, students and professionals in the design and advertising industry. DESICON has presented to the Greek audience
, since 2003, several creative case studies, professional opinions and visual presentations from 38 leading designers, creative directors, web designers and visual artists. In 2007, DESICON has presented exclusively to the Greek audience the Awards of the International "Golden Drum Festival" in association with HDI Honorary Members, Jack Adamis and Takis Liarmakopoulos.
Ιστορική αναδρομή
Το DESICON ξεκίνησε το 2003, ως ιδέα του Γιώργου Δημόπουλου, Creative Director της Credis Visca και πλέον Προέδρου του HDI. To DESICON ήταν η πρώτη επίσημη συνεδριακή διοργάνωση για τη Γραφιστική που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Αθήνα σε συνέχεια του Παγκόσμιου Συνεδρίου Τυπογραφίας στη Θεσσαλονίκη www.ictvc.org (2002). Το DESICON υποστηρίχθηκε από τους Περήφανους Χορηγούς "Άνοδος ΑΕ", "Apple Computer (Rainbow)", "Adobe Magazine" και "Polichromo", ενώ Κορυφαίοι Χορηγοί Επικοινωνίας ήταν το πρωτοπόρο περιοδικό δημιουργίας +design της Graphopress, το Mad TV, το Mad Radio και το περιοδικό Marketing Week της Boussias Communications. Το 2003 το DESICON έλαβε χώρα στον πολιτιστικό χώρο "Αθηναϊς", το 2004 στο ξενοδοχείο "Golden Age" και το 2005 στον "ΑΚΤΟ".

Historical Review
DESICON originally started in 2003 as an idea of George Dimopoulos, Creative Director of Credis Visca and President of HDI. DESICON was the first Graphic Design Conference held in Athens, following the International Typography Congress in Thessaloniki
www.ictvc.org (2002). DESICON has found, through the years, real support from its Proud Sponsors "Apple Computer (Rainbow)", "Adobe Magazine", "Polichromo", "Anodos SA" and Leading Communication Sponsors "+design" magazine of Graphopress, Mad TV, Mad Radio and "Marketing Week" magazine of Boussias Communications. In 2003, DESICON held at "Athinais" Cultural Center, in 2004 at "Golden Age" Hotel, in 2005 at "AKTO" Design College.



Mercedes SLR, COMMUNIS, SERBIA







MAD TV, Mia Alikaki




BBDO Athens, Panos Rigas, Giannis Liveris


Jack Adamis, Fortune

Giannis Sideris, BOLD Ogilvy




HDI : Heretakis' Retrospective : Αναδρομική Έκθεση Λευτέρη Χαιρετάκη

http://bit.ly/10sP5h

Το Ελληνικό Ινστιτούτο Design διοργάνωσε με επιτυχία την καλλιτεχνική έκθεση "Seeing Out of the Box" στο Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Κύπρου. H αναδρομική έκθεση του Λευτέρη Χαιρετάκη, φιλοξένησε επιλεγμένα έργα εικονογράφησης του δημιουργού και μας προσκάλεσε να δούμε τον κόσμο μέσα από ένα διαφορετικό καλλιτεχνικό πρίσμα. Η έκθεση απεικόνισε γλαφυρά την καλλιτεχνική διεργασία 10 ετών και μας προσέφερε τη δυνατότητα να ταξιδέψουμε στις ιστορίες που ακροβατούν ανάμεσα σε μύθους, παραμύθια και πραγματικότητα.


Exhibition Catalogue, 21x21cm, Offsest Printing on Coated Paper
Concept, Photography & Design: George Dimopoulos
Printing: Vogiatzis SA

Στα εγκαίνια της έκθεσης παρευρέθησαν άνθρωποι του Design, των Τεχνών και των Γραμμάτων, δημοσιογράφοι και εκπρόσωποι των ΜΜΕ, καθώς και εκλεκτά στελέχη της οικονομικής, πολιτικής και πολιτιστικής σκηνής Ελλάδας και Κύπρου.Την καλλιτεχνική επιμέλεια της έκθεσης είχε ο Δημιουργικός Διευθυντής της Credis Visca και Πρόεδρος του Ελληνικού Ινστιτούτου Design, Γιώργος Δημόπουλος και η Πολιτιστική Λειτουργός και Διευθύντρια του Παρασκευαϊδιου Πολιτιστικού Κέντρου Κύπρου, Ελένη Σεβαστή.


Poster 50x70cm, Velvet 300gr, Offset Printing: Vogiatzis SA
Concept, Photography & Design: George Dimopoulos

Στα πλαίσια της έκθεσης, κυκλοφόρησε λεύκωμα με δημιουργίες του Λευτέρη Χαιρετάκη, υπό τη σχεδιαστική και καλλιτεχνική επιμέλεια του Γιώργου Δημόπουλου. Το λεύκωμα του δημιουργού προλόγισε και υπέγραψε ο Πρύτανης της Ανωτάτης Σχολής Καλών Τεχνών, ζωγράφος και εικαστικός Χρόνης Μπότσoγλου.

Ο Λευτέρης Χαιρετάκης σπούδασε εικονογράφηση και εικαστική επικοινωνία στο Royal College of Arts (ΜΑ), είναι επίτιμο μέλος του Ελληνικού Ινστιτούτου Design και μέλος του Δ.Σ. της Καλλιτεχνικής Εταιρίας “Αίσωπος” www.aesopos.gr.

Μέγας Χορηγός της έκθεσης ήταν η εταιρία “Α.Π. Κόρπης” (1876), Χορηγός η εταιρεία γραφικών τεχνών Βογιατζής Α.Ε. www.vogiatzis.gr (1974), ενώ Χορηγός Επικοινωνίας είναι το περιοδικό Marketing Week www.boussias.com


Digital Printing on Canvas : Vogiatzis SA Megapress
Photography : Ioannis Voulgarakis




Photography : Ioannis Voulgarakis

HERETAKIS' RETROSPECTIVE | An Art Exhibition Organised & Designed by CREDIS VISCA | Art Director: George Dimopoulos| Under the Auspicies of: HDI (Hellenic Design Institute) http://www.hdi.gr
and CYPRUS CULTURAL FOUNDATION (Paraskevahedion) | Curators: George Dimopoulos, Eleni Sevasti | Golden Sponsor: A.P. Korpis Maritime | Sponsored by: Vogiatzis Art Printing, Marketing Week