Top 4 Influential Graphic Designers

Top 4 Influential Graphic Designers

Inspiration is vital for success. We emulate whom we revere and that is why I have spent the last little while reflecting on and researching graphic designers and creatives from the past. There are many who came before but these are the four that stood out to me because of their impact on the industry, their body of work, and their creativity. I would love to hear about any that you think I may have missed. Without further to do- here are the top 4 most influential designers.

Saul Bass

Born in the Bronx in 1920, Saul Bass created some of the most iconic design work that we have ever seen. He primarily worked on movie and entertainment projects but was versatile and creative with his projects. His titles were remarkable and it is obvious that he was passionate about them. He created and invented new ways of visually communicating through the motion picture and animation by revolutionizing typography with movement and strength as found in his title sequence for Goodfellas or his incredibly future-ready title sequence for Preminger .

In addition to his incredible work in the film industry, he also designed incredible logos and corporate identities that still stand the test of time today. He created the iconic marks of brands such as Boys & Girls Club, United, Frontier, AT&T, and Wienerschnitzel. Each of these identities was handcrafted by Saul and remarkable for each of their corresponding companies.?

One of my favorite quotes by Saul was “I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares.”?

Source: IndieWire

Aaron Draplin

Aaron Draplin needs no intro. His inspiration for the modern design industry is remarkable. His process of creation is simple, elegant, and intriguing. He was born in Detroit in 1973 and has been pioneering his way through the design industry for decades. I remember watching his workshop and his “cut through the bull$&*T” way of critiques and simply trying to find the best was inspiring. He works designs all the way through, recognizes the importance of simplicity, and is not afraid of moving ideas forward.

He started his design career with Snobard Magazine and later went on to work with clients such as NIKE, Esquire, and Burton. His focus on entrepreneurship and creativity shows through his industry-changing Field Notes notebooks which seem to be the most popular place to record thumbnail sketches, ideas, and roughs throughout the industry.?

His TED talk speaks for itself.

Source: His Site

Erik Nitsche

Probably the most remarkable to me however was Erik Nitche. Born in Switzerland in 1908 he ended up working in Hollywood and then in New York. He was primarily prominent in the ’30s through the ‘60s and shaped much of the design systems that we use today throughout the magazine and publishing space. He worked with brands including Life, Vanity Fair, and Universal.?

To me, his most remarkable achievement was his Atoms for Peace, General Dynamics, and his other books. His design of books and visual interest/ layouts is inspiring. He also pushed the intersection between art and design forward by illustrating and pioneering art in a unique way.

Check out his work here .

Source: Design Is History

Paula Scher

One of the best.?

She is an incredible designer and has shaped our industry. She has worked with brands including Random House, Atlantic, and Coca-Cola. She is a marvel. The area that interests me the most about Miss Scher is her love and revival of historical typefaces in areas such as Art Deco and Russian constructivism. She leads the charge and has inspired me a million times over.?

If you have not watched her profile on the Netflix docu-series Abstract: The Art of Design head over and do that. It is remarkable the work that she has done in the design industry and the educational space as well. She taught at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York starting in 1992. She loves public theater and art.

Source: Fast Company

The End

I hope that helps inspire you to be a little bit better today than you were yesterday. The common thread that I see with all of these individuals is that they all stayed consistent. They put themselves in the right situation and made great designs. They stuck with it for over 20 years and made things that were remarkable. We should all build off of their ideas, concepts, and designs to keep moving things forward in the area of design.

This was originally published on Medium - find more articles, best practices and inspo over there and if we aren't connected yet please reach out, I would love to connect!

Stay humble, and hustle harder.

Nate K.

UX Designer | Illustrator