Week 7: Supergraphics Innovator, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon

Barbara Stauffacher Solomon is a graphic designer and landscape architect born in 1928, California. She is known for her large scale interior Supergraphics and exterior signage at Sea Ranch in Sonoma County.

When she was young, Solomon trained as a dancer, and studied painting and sculpture at San Fransisco Art institute. She got married in 1948, then later moved to Switzerland after her husband’s death in 1956. She also studied Architecture at Berkeley after this.

Solomon returned to San Fransisco in 1962 and set up an office as a graphic designer and designed guides for the San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art. She met landscape architect Lawrence Halprin who got her work to Sea Ranch, where she designed the architectural scale paintings for the building interiors. Solomon also created a logo for the Ranch, and Halprin went on to recommend her to other architects and designers he knew. After building more of a name for herself, she received two American Institute of Architects awards.

She went on to teach at Harvard and Yale and later worked more as a landscape architect.

I chose Barbara Solomon because I find it inspiring to look at the lives of other female designers, especially since the industry was male-dominated during the time. I admire her for pursuing many creative disciplines, going to study design abroad, and for her desire to keep learning later on in her life.

Interestingly enough, Solomon’s famous work at the Sea Ranch was almost cut short as the architects blew the budget. She came up with a solution, though, making a few adjustments and using cost-effective paint, and so the project was a success.

We don’t see supergraphics very much today, but down below are a couple of modern examples I like that I found on Apartment Therapy:(https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/supergraphics-is-the-70s-design-trend-making-a-comeback-240144)

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Stauffacher_Solomon

https://www.curbed.com/2018/1/3/16842200/barbara-stauffacher-solomon-sea-ranch-supergraphics

Interesting video on Solomon’s life: