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Paula Scher is a graphic designer who was born on October 6, 1948 in Virginia and later grew up in Philadelphia and Washington DC. Her father was a photogrammetric engineer for the US Geological Survey who invented a device that ensured the distortion-free aerial photography and through him, Scher became inspired to do art and draw maps. Scher attended the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and received her bachelor’s in fine arts degree in 1970. She moved to New York and joined the CBS Records in the advertising and promotions department where she would design more than 150 album covers and ads. Two years later, she moved to the competing company, Atlantic Records. During the economic downturn of the 70s, Scher became more reliant on typography than illustrations which would become a hallmark of her design style. In 1982, Scher founded her own design studio with partner Terry Koppel called Koppel and Scher. This would allow Scher to work on graphic design on her own. She began to work on a new style that was inspired by Art Deco and Russian Constructivism while incorporating typography into the work. Her own studio would work on designing packaging, book jackets, advertising, and so on. In 1991, she joined Pentagram where she consults the design studio and eventually worked her way up as principal. She became the first significant female figure in Pentagram and her work there would give her visibility. She later became a teacher at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She has worked with different clients such as Microsoft, New York City Ballet, Museum of Modern Art, etc.

Scher’s style is unique. She likes to use typography a lot and is a key part in her designs. She arranged types and words in different sizes and and angles which makes the type pop out. She uses type in a way almost like an illustration, using it as a way to lead the eye, using it as a texture, or as an interactive device for photos in the design.

Image result for paula scher
Image result for paula scher
Image result for paula scher

Sources

http://www.historygraphicdesign.com/the-age-of-information/postmodern-design/207-paula-scher