While many designers plan to be in the design career, this wasn’t the case for Barbara Stauffacher Solomon. Originally training to become a dancer, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon stumbled into the design field after the passing of her husband. Due to the lack of financial support for her and her daughter, Solomon decided it was time to start a new career.

Barbara Stauffacher Solomon (Image Source)

Solomon began her early career training at the San Francisco Art Institute, studying painting and sculpting. Later in 1956, she moved to Switzerland to continue her education, where she worked under Armin Hofmann, a designer who exposed Solomon to the world of Swiss design. This style would influence her future works later on and assist her in becoming associated with the modern design movement.

Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: “I designed because I needed to eat” - Design Week
Sea Ranch Graphic (Image Source)

As Solomon finished her learning, she moved back to the US and soon was hired to work alongside architect Larry Halprin. Here she began working and designing on supergraphics, a design style that she would later become best known for. Sea Ranch was one of Solomon’s first major projects. One of the key main issues with this space was that there were large areas of space that the company did not have the budget to fill. With this in mind, Solomon resolved this issue by using large graphics to fill up the space more effectively yet effortlessly. This approach was a success, and soon this design method became popularized amongst designers.

Supergraphics' Barbara Stauffacher Solomon legacy is ready to be told | TypeRoom
Sea Ranch Graphic (Image Source)

Aside from design, Solomon also studied history, philosophy and architecture at Berkley University and is now writing books alongside design to create an impact in the world with her work.

Making the Invisible Visible by Barbara Stauffacher Solomon
Making the Invisible Visible Book by Barbara Stauffacher Solomon (Image Source)
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon Has Been Shaking Up Design for Seven Decades
Barbara Stauffacher Solomon at LAXART (Image Source)

Sources:

Long, Molly. “Barbara Stauffacher Solomon: ‘I Designed Because I Needed to Eat.’” Design Week, 1 Mar. 2021, https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/22-28-february-2021/barbara-stauffacher-solomon/#:~:text=More%20than%2060%20years%20after,Solomon%20between%201980%20and%202021.

Segran, Elizabeth. “The Most Influential Designer You’ve Never Heard of Is a 92-Year-Old Artist in SF.” Fast Company, Fast Company, 15 July 2021, https://www.fastcompany.com/90655404/the-most-influential-designer-youve-never-heard-of-is-a-92-year-old-artist-in-sf.

“Supergraphics Collection Features Art by Barbara Stauffacher Solomon.” Design Milk, 19 July 2021, https://design-milk.com/the-supergraphics-collection-collab-features-art-by-iconic-barbara-stauffacher-solomon/.