Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand

AIGA Minneapolis
April 22, 2014
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul RandZoom

The Original Event

Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand
Standing on Shoulders: The Presentation Books of Paul Rand

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April 22nd, 5:30pm until 8:00pm

Carmichael Lynch, Minneapolis

Sir Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

As we celebrate AIGA’s 100th anniversary, please join us in discovering the giants of design, whose pioneering efforts and profound accomplishments have influenced so many. Standing on Shoulders is a series of presentations focused on specific aspects of legendary design careers, which will connect participants with great work from the past, to appreciate and learn from it.

Michael Skjei Discusses The Presentation Books Of Paul Rand

In our first event, Michael Skjei, Design Director at Carmichael Lynch Spong, will explore the presentation books of Paul Rand, father of modern branding. His modernist aesthetic informed his corporate identity work, and he created some of the most influential and enduring identities of the past 100 years, including IBM, Westinghouse, ABC Television, and UPS. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was convincing businesses that design was an effective and profitable tool, which allowed all of us, in designer Lou Danziger’s words, to go from being “…commercial artists to being graphic designers largely on his [Rand’s] merits.”

A hesitant presenter who was often uncomfortable with that aspect of our profession, Rand created presentation books for his identity clients to more thoroughly explain his process and design rationale. Skjei will show slides of and discuss the presentation books, as well as provide background and context about their impact on Rand’s clients and our industry. As a bonus, Skjei will provide actual vintage samples of these books for hands-on viewing, including those created for Ford, The Limited, Morningstar, NeXT, and Education First.

Presentation, 5:30 p.m. at Carmichael Lynch
110 Fifth Street N., 10th Floor
Minneapolis

Happy Hour, 8:00 p.m. at Bar 508
508 1st Ave N., Lower Level
Minneapolis

About Michael Skjei

Michael Skjei’s design work has been recognized by AIGA, AIGA Minnesota, Communication Arts, Graphis, Print, Art Director’s Club, Type Director’s Club, and D&AD. Throughout his career, he has been a collector of vintage design; he has mounted shows on the work of Paul Rand, and Alvin and Elaine Lustig. The Lustig show traveled to the AIGA Gallery in Manhattan, and has since appeared in several other galleries. Skjei is currently working on a collection of Lester Beall’s designs, and hopes to mount a Beall show sometime in 2015.

Next Event

Kit Hinrichs on Paul Rand

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