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Design is all around us, but most people don't know how to appreciate it. In this artist profile, we'll be discussing the work of Michael Bierut, a graphic designer who has made a name for himself in the industry.

With over 40 years of experience, Bierut has created some incredible artful and functional designs. We'll be looking at his work and discussing what makes him stand out from the crowd.

If you're an aspiring graphic designer, his name should be familiar to you. As a partner at Pentagram and Design Observer columnist, Bierut has had a hand in some of the most iconic designs.

So get comfortable and prepare to learn from one of the greats.

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Humble Beginnings and Education

Michael Bierut was born in 1957 and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Graphic design was not as popular as it is now, and it was not promoted to young adults at the time. His passion for fine art, sketching, and music led him to only two volumes on the subject in the library.

He eventually decided to attend the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning to study graphic design. He interned at WGBH, a Boston public television station, for another AIGA medalist, Chris Pullman. He went on to work for Vignelli Associates after graduation in 1980, rising the ranks to Vice President in a decade.

He had a lot of clout in the industry, but it also helped him create the foundation of his career.

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Career and Popular Works

Bierut is a visionary who knows the readership and audience of the organization. While working at Vignelli Associates, he recognized that annual reports and company brochures made by designers are not well-read. As a result, he changed his tactics to develop content that people would want to read.

Beirut had to do most of the work manually when he first started working at the company because technological advances had not yet come. He attributes his success to the first four years he spent working for Vignelli Associates.

He used to make invitations for his friends' parties, non-profit freebies, unusual birthday cards, and mixtape packaging. Massimo Vignelli increased his workload as he saw his efficiency improve over time.

Bierut joined Pentagram's New York office as a partner in 1990. His clients were Alliance for Downtown New York, Motorola, Alfred A. Knopf, the Walt Disney Company, the Toy Industry Association, Yale School of Architecture, Princeton University, and New York University.

One of the projects Bierut managed was a psychedelic era exhibition for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He also offered United Airlines his skills as a design consultant.

Dwell asked for his advice on design books, and Fast Company wanted his thoughts on corporate branding. Morgan Library Museum recently enlisted his help in creating new signs and branding as it grew.

He was hired to design the environmental graphics for the New York Times building and Phillip Johnson's Glass House. He developed marketing tactics for the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation in addition to revamping The Atlantic magazine.

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Micahel Bierut's Top Designs

1. The New York Times signage.

Michael Bierut was commissioned to develop the large signage that overlooks 8th Avenue shortly after architect Renzo Piano was tasked with designing the new home for The New York Times around the millennium.

2. Cathedral Church of St John the Divine signage.

Although church signage may not seem like the most exciting design project, Michael's work for the Cathedral Church of St John The Divine defied expectations. He supervised the church's significant branding initiative, which included an identification that referenced the cathedral's stained glass windows and a new version of Frederic Goudy's 1928 black-letter text, based on Gutenberg's 42-line Bible. These placards were made for the annual St. Francis Day animal blessing, encouraging god-fearing dog owners to keep their canines under control.

3. Saks Fifth Avenue holiday windows.

Michael's work for Saks Fifth Avenue was centered on a redrawing of the cursive emblem with type designer Joe Finocchiaro and then separating it into 64 tiles, from one famous location of New York worship to another. The designers could create millions of variations by shuffling and rotating the tiles, and each image preserved both visual interest and communicative cohesiveness.

4. Hillary Clinton campaign logo.

In January 2015, Michael Bierut was tasked with creating a logo for 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. The idea behind his logo was to make his campaign's new domain feel identifiable and approachable. The plain square "H" was also "deceptively simple," as Bierut puts it.

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Conclusion

Michael Bierut's design career has spanned more than four decades, during which time he's worked on some of the world's most iconic brands and projects. From developing the signage for the New York Times building to designing the Hillary Clinton campaign logo, Bierut has left his mark on the world of design.

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Michael Bierut is an inspiring graphic designer to look up to. He achieved his success with persistence and dedication to his craft, which can be seen in his high-quality work. With hard work and perseverance, anyone can achieve success in their field.

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If you're an aspiring graphic designer and wondering how to make your own graphics, Dzyn Space is the perfect online design tool for you.

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