Blog Post 3: Supergraphics Innovator

Paula Scher

Public Theatre Exterior — Image 2: Public theatre exterior

Image 3: New jersey performing arts center exterior graphics

Bloomberg environmental graphics — Image 4: Environmental graphics for Bloomberg L.P.’s headquarters located on the east side of Midtown Manhattan

Image 5: Social Distancing Guidelines on The High Line

Research

Born in 1948 in Washington, D.C, Paula Scher is an innovative graphic designer, painter, and design educator. In the 1970s, her career began as an art director and her diverse typography approach was greatly influential. Scher became partner in the New York office of Pentagram in 1991, and served as their first female principal. At Pentagram, she designed identity systems, environmental graphics, and packaging and publications for many different clients. Her Citibank and Tiffany & Co. graphic identities became so successful they are now used as case studies for contemporary regeneration in American branding. Scher believes that being successful in the industry takes learning design from a great designer and “developing [an] ability to explain, defend, and promote … work.” – Paula Scher

Opinion

New York Public Theatre poster — Image 6: Promotional poster series for a theater production that debuted at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater in 1995

Paula Scher is one of the most influential artists in the design world. I admire her strong work ethic and her ability to produce lasting, innovative and timeless identities. This Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk poster is one of her famous posters from the promotional poster series for Public Theatre. I personally really love how Scher’s design is so clean, regardless of the competing type and colours. I can be hesitant when working with type, but her work proves to me that it can be executed in a beautiful dynamic way as she uses it here to complement the powerful imagery.

Image Credit:

Image 1: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-legendary-designer-paula-scher-started-graphic-design

Image 2: https://www.madamearchitect.org/interviews/2020/7/16/paula-scher

Image 3: https://www.designboom.com/design/paula-scher-interview/

Image 4: https://thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/paula-scher

Image 5: https://www.madamearchitect.org/interviews/2020/7/16/paula-scher

Image 6: https://thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/paula-scher

Sources:

Bigman, Alex. “Get to Know Paula Scher, Titan of Postmodern Design.” 99designs, 99designs, 10 Mar. 2018, 99designs.ca/blog/famous-design/paula-scher-titan-of-postmodern-design/.

Dawood, Sarah. “Supergraphics: How to Transform Public Spaces through Design.” Design Week, 22 Feb. 2018, www.designweek.co.uk/issues/19-25-february-2018/supergraphics-transform-public-spaces-colour-images-typography-design/.

Editorial, Artsy, and Michelle Santiago Cortés. “Legendary Designer Paula Scher on How to Get Started in Graphic Design.” Artsy, 18 Oct. 2018, www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-legendary-designer-paula-scher-started-graphic-design.

“Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic Revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7720. Https://Doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720.” doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f.

Gamolina, Julia. “A Life in Her Work: Pentagram’s Paula Scher on Ideas, Invention, and Learning.” Madame Architect, Madame Architect, 19 Nov. 2020, www.madamearchitect.org/interviews/2020/7/16/paula-scher.

“Paula Scher.” Pentagram, www.pentagram.com/about/paula-scher.

“Paula Scher Interview.” Designboom, 21 July 2020, www.designboom.com/design/paula-scher-interview/.

“Paula Scher: Biography, Designs and Facts.” Famous Graphic Designers, www.famousgraphicdesigners.org/paula-scher#:~:text=Paula Scher is a popular,their way into American vernacular.

The Great Discontent. “Paula Scher on The Great Discontent (TGD).” The Great Discontent, 19 Nov. 2013, thegreatdiscontent.com/interview/paula-scher.

Clarice Mah