Paul Rand
- Graphic Design
Contents 11 sections +
Contents
Overview
Paul Rand (1914–1996) was an American graphic designer and painter. Getty’s Union List of Artist Names records him in both fields.1 He worked as a consultant or designer for the American Broadcasting Company, IBM, and Westinghouse Electric Corporation.2
At a glanceSourced facts
At a glance
Design Philosophy and Writings
According to Paul Rand: Modernist Master 1914-1996, his essay Confusion and Chaos first appeared in the AIGA Journal of Graphic Design, volume 10, number 1, in 1992.3 In the essay, Rand identified Cubism, suprematism, neoplasticism, constructivism, and futurism as an aesthetic foundation, although the excerpt does not specify what the foundation referred to.3 Rand argued that the Bauhaus remained vital, pointing to its Berlin archive, the restored building in Dessau, and original products available to the public.3 The essay opens by invoking critic Roger Fry’s concern that his own views might be dismissed as the complaints of a disgruntled elder.3
Reception and Documentation
The MIT Media Laboratory describes Rand as a leading graphic designer.2 A publisher description of Paul Rand: A Designer’s Art, which Rand authored, calls it arguably the most important book on his work.4 Getty’s Union List of Artist Names assigns Rand the person record identifier 500063342 and records him as a painter and graphic designer.1
Selected works
His 1981 Eye-Bee-M poster spelled out IBM as a rebus, using pictures of an eye and a bee for the first two letters; the poster is now held by the Museum of Modern Art.5 As art director of the William H. Weintraub agency from 1941 to 1955, Rand handled advertising for clients including Dubonnet, El Producto cigars and Kaiser-Frazer cars, working alongside Bill Bernbach.6,7 Weintraub let him work there three days a week; he spent the other two illustrating books and designing book covers for Knopf and other publishers.7 After marrying the children's author Ann Binkley in 1949, Rand illustrated many of her books.7
Identity and graphic design
For UPS, Rand set the company's initials in a shield crowned by a small parcel tied with string.7 Rand advised Cummins Engine on design for 35 years; his 1973 mark for the company merges its name and monogram into one element.8 Besides IBM and Westinghouse, his consultancy clients included the computer company NeXT, and he created identities for UPS and ABC Television.6
Teaching and writing
His later books include Design and the Play Instinct (1965), Paul Rand: A Designer's Art (1985) and Design, Form, and Chaos (1993), the last two published by Yale University Press.8
Honours and collections
Rand received the AIGA gold medal and was the first person elected to the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame, entering in 1972.6,9 After his death, Cummins Engine funded a Paul Rand Lectureship at the Yale School of Art.8
Life and career milestones
He was born Peretz Rosenbaum, one of twins.6
As Cummins’ design consultant for 35 years, Paul Rand developed a strong, memorable identity for our company through the logo, annual report, and other images
Sources
- 1ULAN Full Record Display (Getty Research)getty.edu · Universities & libraries · Tier B
- 2Paul Rand at the MIT Media Laboratoryacg.media.mit.edu · Universities & libraries · Tier B
- 3Confusion and Chaos: The Seduction of Contemporary Graphic Design | Paul Rand: Modernist Master 1914-1996Paul Rand: Modernist Master 1914-1996 · Other · Tier C
- 4Paul Rand: A Designer’s ArtYale University Press eBooks (1988) · Research · Tier A
- 5The IBM logo | IBMIBM · Other · Tier B
- 6Paul Rand – Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) – 512 creative professionals from 46 countriesAlliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) · Other · Tier B
- 7Rand, Paul | Encyclopedia.comEncyclopedia.com · Other · Tier B
- 8Cummins Engine Funds Lectureship in Memory of Paul RandYale News · News · Tier B
- 9Paul Rand – ADC Hall of Fame – Creative Hall of FameCreative Hall of Fame · Other · Tier B
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Lifeline
1914–1996 · scroll to travel1932
“Rand began his commercial design career as an assistant designer with the small firm of George Switzer in 1932.”Source: Encyclopedia.com ↗1946
“In 1946 Rand compiled a statement of his personal observations and philosophy, which was published in a handsome book designed by him and titled “Thoughts on Design.”Source: Creative Hall of Fame ↗1949
“His second marriage, in 1949, was to Ann Binkley, who wrote children’s books, many of which Rand illustrated.”Source: Encyclopedia.com ↗1972
1974
This is a 1974 poster for the Minuteman National Historic Park that was made for the US National Park…Wikimedia Commons ↗
This is a 1974 poster for the Minuteman National Historic Park that was made for the US National Park Service by Paul Rand.Paul Rand · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons 1981
“In 1981, Rand designed the IBM rebus poster, which featured pictograms of an eye and a bee in place of the I and B.”Source: IBM ↗1981
Paul Rand’s popular Eye-Bee-M poster, a type of word puzzle known as a rebus that uses pictures to…Wikimedia Commons ↗
Paul Rand’s popular Eye-Bee-M poster, a type of word puzzle known as a rebus that uses pictures to represent letters, was created in 1981 in support of IBM’s motto, THINK.Paul Rand · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons 1985
Yale University Press logo designed by Paul Rand in 1985, used until 2010Wikimedia Commons ↗
Yale University Press logo designed by Paul Rand in 1985, used until 2010Paul Rand · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons 1992
9 dated events from this entry and its sources · Age: years since birth in 1914
