Paul Rand logos

Graphic design is also inspiration, knowledge and learning. To understand design, it is necessary to take a look at the past and be inspired by those who have achieved success based on years and years of experience in the sector.

That is why many of them have not only obtained recognition for their effort and perseverance, but also for many projects that, over time, have formed part of the symbols and identities of many of the companies that we know today. today.

But to talk about design, First we have to mention a figure who is considered the father of design and graphic arts, Paul Rand. In this post, we are not only going to tell you his story as a designer, but we are also going to offer you a series of projects that have made him a benchmark for many designers.

Paul Rand: Who is he?

Paul Rand It is defined as one of the maximum representations of graphic design. He is known as the best graphic designer of all time. He was born in the United States, and in addition to leading design as his main branch, he is also known for being a painter, lecturer, industrial designer and advertising artist.

He is also a benchmark for being the creator of the New York School and for his work that has led him to worldwide success. In short, he is a designer who was inspired by graphic arts as a way of life, and Currently, there are many artists, designers and designers from all over the world who take it as a reference for their projects, especially those of corporate identity.

His story

Born in Brooklyn in 1914, his family was considered somewhat special because she was highly religious, Jewish and Orthodox, which led to the prohibition and veto of images. But he wanted to stand out in something other than science or letters, so from a very young age he began to design posters for some of his school events. That was how he got his parents to allow him to study and undertake his studies in the arts.

From a very young age he already stood out as a designer and artist, since some well-known magazines in his city commissioned him with large projects for the design of their covers. That was how Paul Rand grew bigger and bigger and made an important niche in the world of designSo much so, that they cataloged it as the greatest influence on American design.

Years later, many companies wanted to contact him to improve their company's publicity and advertising media. For this reason, He decided to take a new path and dedicate himself to brand design. To do this, he used some geometric shapes from which he was inspired in his signage projects and superimposed them with the aim of creating a clean brand, not very busy and easy to identify. This is how some of the companies defined Paul Rand.

his best works

Ford

If Paul Rand stood out for something, it is in brand design. For this reason, Henry Ford chose Paul Rand as the main designer even though he did not want him to design it. To do this, the designer opted for a quite functional and typical design of the time, let us remember that the brand and its design are located especially in the 70s, a time recharged with great automobile and technological movements.

This is how Paul Rand became even more relevant in the history of design, since he was part of one of the greatest automobile companies in history, which at that time was classified as the most important.

IBM

Paul Rand was also part of the design of what is currently and recognized as the American multinational technology company and consulting based in Armonk, New York. Undoubtedly, the design is quite functional. It maintains its graphic line and its geometric style with regular and simple shapes.

The creation of this brand and the use of its corporate color were a success both for the company and for his career as an artist and brand designer.

WestingHouse

Westinghouse is a Pennsylvania electric company. This company also opted and found the need to create a brand. To do this, Paul Rand got down to work and, maintaining its constructivist aesthetic with geometric shapes, decided to devise a logo whose image is represented by the initial of the company with shapes such as circles or cylinders.

It was another of the logos that achieved great recognition by the design industry and is today one of the most representative logos. Without a doubt, another of his magnificent works where a job well done is reflected.

a B C

The famous ABC television network was also one of the brands and companies that needed a new identity. For this reason, Paul Rand joined another new adventure. This time he opted for a round typeface that does not neglect the fluidity and warmth of being a geometric shape. Despite this, he opted for a perfectly constructed and designed circle and applied it as the main element of the logo.

Without a doubt, it is another of the most spectacular designs of his career as a designer.

Other references

Saul Bass

If we had to start this list with some of the other referents who have also made history, it would be Saúl Bass without hesitation. He is a poster designer inspired by Hollywood cinema and in the great stars. He was a revolutionary in the film industry, designing some of the credits for the films. Works such as The Man with the Golden Gun”, “The Temptation Lives Upstairs”, “Vertigo”, “Anatomy of a Murder”, “West Side Story”, “Psychosis” or “Spartacus” stand out. In short, a designer who has influenced great filmmakers and artists.

Milton Glaser

He is one of the designers and artists who is known worldwide for his designs. He has been the creator of the famous logo for the city of New York that so many tourists wear on their t-shirts when they visit the city. He is also known for his representation of Bob Marley, thus designing and creating an illustration replete with colors and very diverse shapes. He is one of the designers who is characterized by the use of vivid and striking color ranges. If what you are looking for is inspiration, he is one of the great references to do it without hesitation.

David carson

He is the father of grunge design, another of the techniques that make up graphic design. His style is characterized by being overloaded with patterns, patterns that derive from fonts that are quite unusual and striking, colors and chromatic ranges that are very lively and a way of constituting and dividing the graphic elements that he uses in a very ornate way. Without a doubt, it is one of the best references for those who are just starting out and need a boost of creativity and inspiration. In addition, he is also famous for some of his works, such as advertisements for brands such as Pepsi, Budweisser or Xerox.

Javier Mariscal

Javier Mariscal is a Spanish graphic designer, very famous for being the creator of the 92 Barcelona Olympic Games. His works include branding, posters, graphic novels, animation, some cinema, architecture, packaging, etc. He is one of the most extensive artists and designers since he has touched different areas of design. He also has a high creative value, since his works are characterized by the typefaces and the elements or illustrations that he uses in each of them. It is not surprising that he is also another of the great Spanish references, who has managed to make us all fall in love.

Pepe Gimeno

Pepe Gimeno is another of the Spanish designers who has won the award for maximum reference and representative. Surely you have heard of him, since he is the creator of the famous tourist palm tree that encompasses the tourism sector of the Valencian Community. A palm tree recharged with colors, each one of them represents the culture, climate, history and heritage of one of the best communities in Spain. He is also known for his very minimalist and demure designs. In short, a great example that with very little you can say a lot.

Conclusion

There are many designers and designers who have been part of history. Among them, Paul Rand has been one of the greatest references for all of us. There is no doubt that his works have marked a before and after, and that each of them has a meaning and a style that makes it functional and originally his.

We hope you have learned more about this great designer and artist. We invite you to continue searching for some of his works, which total almost 250. Among them are brands and posters. We also hope that some of the references that we have indicated will inspire you.