Will Burtin was one of the major information designers and art director of the 20th century. He was born on January 17, 1908 in Cologne Germany. He arrived in the United States in 1939 after fleeting Nazism in Germany.
He was among the many emigre designers that brought the modernist design principles to the U.S. Will Burtin is well known individually although for his scientific concepts within his work.
What many including myself find most impressive about his work is how he visualize complex information. His experiences in Germany and the U.S. were reflected in his designs. Burtin truly recognized the power of visual language over the written word when he had to design gunnery manuals for young soldiers in training. His art direction in Fortune’s pages especially reflected the economic optimism and scientific innovation of the era.
His work continues to influence people today in the era of extensive data.
Research
https://www.aiga.org/medalist-will-burtin