Larsen Idealog

Steven Heller speaks to sold-out crowd—showcasing the work of designers

There was plenty of “graphic language” last night as Steven Heller, author of more than 100 books on graphic design and visual culture, spoke to a sold-out crowd in St. Paul, Minnesota as part of the CVA Leaders of Design Series, sponsored by the College of Visual Arts.

“Find the people who will bring your vision to life and collaborate with them,” said Heller. “I couldn’t do anything without collaboration.”

Heller is the consummate collaborator, synthesizer, chronicler, and encourager of great design and creativity. And last night’s lecture, titled “Curating Design Culture,” underscored just that point with its focus on the designers and authors Heller admires or has worked with at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he is co-chair of the Designer as Author MFA program and co-founder of the Design Criticism MFA program.

Apart from a mention of the retrospective of his work at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, Heller didn’t talk about himself at all. Instead, this AIGA Medalist and longstanding art director of The New York Times Book Review offered a richly visual tour of the work of 19 designers, illustrators, authors, and entrepreneurs — some accomplished, some up-and-coming:

Deborah Adler
Created Clear Rx for Target Corporation.

Dave Eggers
Founder of McSweeneys.

Paul Budnitz
Founder of Kidrobot.

Maira Kalman
Illustrator, author, designer. Known for her New Yorker covers, The Elements of Style illustrated edition, and work at M&Co. 

Gary Panter
Illustrator, painter, designer.

Bobby C. Martin Jr.
Heller discussed how Martin developed a comprehensive visual identity for the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, then went on to create a regional public service billboard campaign with the help of a Sappi "Ideas that Matter" grant.

Amy Wang
"Ametrica!" an awareness campaign to help convert the United States to the metric system. 

Tarek Atrissi
Arabic Typography.com 

Jeffrey Everett
Originally of Lorem Ipsum Industries, now at El Jefe Design, and creating posters and t-shirts. 

Sunniva Djupedal
Creator of sculptural bowls, glasses, and cutlery specifically designed “to shift the view from disabled to enabled by design.” 

Luisa Gloria
Creator of San Honesto, Patron Saint Against Corruption, Bribery and Lies. A podcast. 

Sierra Krause
Creator of Vega sculptural lamps, composed of acrylic rectangles that can be used as frames for images. 

Jennifer Panepinto
Designed a line of porcelain nesting bowls with visual guides to help dieters with proper portion sizes.

Brian Smith
Visibility gear for urban cyclists, called "Nimbus." A podcast.

Jesse Willmon
Creator of Commix, a site that helps writers and cartoonists create comics through collaboration.  

Chris Ritchie
This is the only link I’m not certain is correct. I apologize, Chris Ritchie, if this isn’t you. (Please let me know if I'm correct or mistaken in the comments.) 

Ryan Feerer
Created a mysterious world called Murkville Forest, which offers products including an illustrated novella, a compilation CD with original music written for Murkville, and an interactive website.

Lara McCormick
Stop and Start Over, a recovery project specifically designed to serve and appeal to a younger generation of addicts and alcoholics.

Amanda Spielman
Bookfool, offering fiction recommendations to match people to books based on factors such as mood, personal circumstances, and geography.  

"Design is on an upward trajectory," said one participant at the close of the lecture. Heller agreed, encouraging the audience members to remember that "good design is supposed to seduce you."