:Milton Glaser

{{Infobox artist

| name = Milton Glaser

| image = Milton glaser.jpg

| image_size = 150

| caption = Glaser in 2000.

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|6|26}}

| birth_place = The Bronx, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|6|26|1929|6|26}}

| death_place = Manhattan, New York, U.S.

| known_for = I Love New York logo

| education = {{unbulleted list|Cooper Union | Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna}}

| movement =

| notable_works =

| patrons =

| spouse = {{marriage|Shirley Girton|1957|}}

| awards = Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award Lifetime Achievement, 2004
National Medal of Arts, 2009

| relatives = Steven Brower (first cousin once removed)

| website = {{URL|miltonglaser.com|MiltonGlaser.com}}

}}

Milton Glaser (June 26, 1929{{spnd}}June 26, 2020) was an American graphic designer, recognized for his designs, including the I Love New York logo;{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/nyregion/milton-glaser-still-hearts-new-york.html?_r=0| work= The New York Times| title= The Master Designer: Milton Glaser Still Hearts New York| first= John| last= Leland| date= July 29, 2016| access-date= September 24, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/leadership/2007/09/28/baseball-omalley-brooklyn-lead-cx_sm_0928dodgers.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118024132/http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2007/09/28/baseball-omalley-brooklyn-lead-cx_sm_0928dodgers.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 18, 2007 |title= Fifty Years Of Loss |access-date=April 26, 2008 |date=September 28, 2007 |work= Forbes |last= McGookin| first= Steve}} a 1966 poster for Bob Dylan; the logos for DC Comics, Stony Brook University, Brooklyn Brewery; and his graphic work on the introduction of the iconic 1969 Olivetti Valentine typewriter.{{cite web

|title = Valentine, Italy's Iconic Ruby Red Typewriter

|publisher = Elle Decor

|author = Rosario Spagnolello

|date = May 28, 2020

|url = https://www.elledecor.com/it/best-of/a32701120/olivetti-valentine-history/}}

In 1954, he also co-founded Push Pin Studios, co-founded New York magazine with Clay Felker, and established Milton Glaser, Inc. In 1969, he produced and designed "Short Subject", commonly known as "Mickey Mouse in Vietnam", a short 16mm anti-war film directed by Whitney Lee Savage (father of Adam Savage). His artwork has been featured in exhibits, and placed in permanent collections in many museums worldwide. Throughout his long career, he designed many posters, publications and architectural designs. He received many awards for his work, including the National Medal of the Arts award from President Barack Obama in 2009 and was the first graphic designer to receive this award.

Life and career

{{More citations needed section|date=May 2024}}File:Milton glaser at studio.jpg

Glaser was born in The Bronx, New York City. His parents, Eugene and Eleanor (née Bergman), were Hungarian Jewish immigrants. The family resided in the South Bronx. His father owned a dry-cleaning and tailoring shop; his mother was a homemaker. Glaser took drawing classes with artists Raphael and Moses Soyer before attending the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan.

After graduating from the Cooper Union in New York City, Reynold Ruffins, Seymour Chwast, Edward Sorel and Glaser founded Push Pin Studios in 1954.{{cite web|title=Pushpin Gallery|url=http://www.pushpininc.com/about/pushpin/|access-date=July 20, 2016|website=pushpininc.com}} Glaser joined after his return from Italy. In 1957, the Push Pin Monthly Graphic was sent out to friends and clients. The studio's work rejected tradition and favored "reinvigorated interpretations of historical styles". Glaser and Seymour Chwast directed Push Pin Studios for twenty years, while it became a guiding reference in the world of graphic design.[http://pushpininc.com/ Pushpin Group website], accessed June 6, 2008. The studio "redefined and expanded the imprimatur of the designer, illustrator, and visual culture at large".

Glaser started his own design firm, Milton Glaser Inc., in 1974 and left Push Pin Studios the following year. In 1983, Glaser formed a partnership with Walter Bernard and established a publication design firm called WBMG in New York City. WBMG has designed more than 50 magazines, newspapers and periodicals around the world.{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.miltonglaser.com/milton/c:biography/ |access-date=July 18, 2016 |website=miltonglaser.com |language=en-us}}

Over his career, Glaser personally designed and illustrated more than 400 posters. Milton drew heavily from early 20th century artists to create his own signature style that consisted of playful, psychedelic graphics with controlled blasts of colors along with silhouettes and bold geometric outlines.{{cite news |last=Farago |first=Jason |date=June 30, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/30/arts/design/milton-glaser-graphic-design.html |title=Ten Signature Images From Milton Glaser's Eclectic Career |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 7, 2023}} His work is displayed in the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, New York; the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; and the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. His work has also been featured in exhibits internationally. He had one-man shows at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

In 1988, Glaser designed the New York City Shelly Fireman-owned Italianate eatery Trattoria Dell'Arte across from Carnegie Hall.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/17/garden/currents-a-bistro-with-humor-from-glaser.html|title=CURRENTS; A Bistro With Humor, From Glaser|first=Patricia Leigh|last=Brown|date=November 17, 1988|website=The New York Times|access-date=2020-06-27}}

Glaser was the subject of the 2008 documentary film To Inform and Delight: The World of Milton Glaser.{{cite news |title=Movie Review: "To Inform and Delight: The World of Milton Glaser"; Artist With His Signature on the City |first=Stephen |last=Holden |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 22, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/22/movies/22glas.html}} A tribute to Glaser, still working in his 90th year, was published in The New York Times in 2019.{{cite news |last1=Leland |first1=John |title=Why This Famous Graphic Designer, at 90, Still ♥ NY |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/nyregion/why-this-famous-graphic-designer-at-90-still-ny.html |access-date=July 4, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=July 4, 2019}}

Personal life

Milton Glaser was the uncle of Gabby Glaser, of the band Luscious Jackson. He was also a first cousin once removed of graphic designer Steven Brower; Glaser was Brower’s mother’s cousin.{{cite web | url=https://www.tcj.com/my-uncle-milton-a-milton-glaser-remembrance-by-steven-brower/ | title=My Uncle Milton - A Milton Glaser Remembrance by Steven Brower | date=July 10, 2020 | last=Brower |first=Steven |website=The Comics Journal}} He died of a stroke and renal failure in New York City on his 91st birthday.{{cite news|last=Grimes|first=William|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/obituaries/milton-glaser-dead.html|title=Milton Glaser, Master Designer of 'I ♥ NY' Logo, Is Dead at 91|work=The New York Times|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

Glaser's parents were mildly observant Jews, and throughout his life Glaser himself was casually observant, which included fasting on Yom Kippur and hosting an annual Passover seder. Glaser stated that his Jewish background played a part in inspiring his designs, sometimes more than his American background. {{Cite web |last=Kampel |first=Stewart |date=January 2009 |title=Profile: Milton Glaser |url=https://www.hadassahmagazine.org/2009/12/23/profile-milton-glaser/ |website=Hadassah Magazine}}{{Cite web |last=Friedman |first=Gabe |date=June 28, 2020 |title=9 Powerful Jewish Designs by Milton Glaser, the Iconic Graphic Artist Who Died this Week at 91 |url=https://www.jta.org/2020/06/28/culture/9-powerful-jewish-designs-by-milton-glaser-the-iconic-graphic-artist-who-died-this-week-at-91 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}

Works

= Bob Dylan poster =

In 1966, Glaser designed a poster for Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. It was one of Glaser's first posters. The poster depicts the profile of Dylan's face with psychedelic, swirly hair, with "Dylan" written at the bottom in Baby Teeth, one of Glaser's typefaces. His inspiration for the poster was Marcel Duchamp's 1957 Self-portrait; and Art Nouveau, saying "That was an influence for the colors and shapes in the picture."{{cite magazine | url= http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/sign-of-the-times-bob-dylan-95420/?no-ist|title=Sign of the Times: Bob Dylan| last= Edwards |first= Owen |date=June 2010 |magazine=Smithsonian |access-date=July 21, 2016}} Six million posters have been printed and distributed, and sell for hundreds of dollars as collectibles.

= I Love New York logo =

File:I Love New York.svg

One of Glaser's most recognizable works is his I Love New York logo. In the mid-1970s, New York City's crime rate was up and the city was widely perceived to be dangerous and was on the verge of bankruptcy. In 1977, the State of New York hired advertising agency Wells Rich Greene and Milton Glaser to design a logo to increase tourism. It was Glaser who came up with the design while sitting in the back of a taxi cab on the way to the meeting.{{Cite news|url=http://www.buytshirtsonline.co.uk/blog/2015/03/the-story-behind-i-heart-new-york/|title=The Story Behind I Heart New York |author=Gary|date=March 19, 2015|website=Buy T-Shirts Online|access-date=July 13, 2016}} The logo consists of the capital "I" and a red heart, stacked on top of the letters "NY" in American Typewriter typeface, symbolizing New York. His inspiration for the logo was Robert Indiana's LOVE design, with the four letters stacked on top of each other. "Glaser loved New York so much that he gave his work to the city for free, hoping it would become public property."

The logo earns New York state $30 million each year and has become a pop culture icon. It is reproduced on everything from coffee cups to T-shirts and hats. The logo can be seen everywhere in New York City. Robert Indiana's work influenced Glaser who in turn has inspired other designers to create variations on the layout, for example "I Heart Radio". The state has filed nearly 3,000 objections against them.{{cite web|url=https://www.muckrock.com/foi/new-york-16/list-of-cease-and-desist-letters-regarding-the-i-ny-logo-6685/|title=List of Cease and Desist Letters Regarding the I ♥ NY® logo |website= MuckRock.com |date=September 10, 2013 |access-date=August 16, 2018}}

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the logo became even more of a symbol, creating unity between the public. Glaser designed a modified version saying, "I Love New York More Than Ever", in response to the attacks. The red heart has a small blackened and burned area along one edge to symbolize the attack on the World Trade Center site.{{cite web | url = https://sva.edu/features/remembering-911-through-milton-glasers-i-love-new-york-more-than-ever-sva-poster | publisher = School of Visual Arts| title= Remembering 9/11 Through Milton Glaser's 'I Love New York More Than Ever' SVA Poster | first = Rodrigo | last = Perez| date = September 11, 2018 | access-date= June 27, 2020}}

= ''New York'' magazine =

In 1968, Glaser and Clay Felker founded New York magazine.{{cite web| url= http://www.miltonglaser.com/milton/c:history/#6|title= History|website=miltonglaser.com |language=en-us|access-date=July 20, 2016}} The magazine was about being on the reader's side, "it was about what was happening in New York City at the time."{{cite web |last=Layoura Layoura|title=Milton Glaser – To Inform and Delight|date=November 25, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BgMTPfFQCM | publisher=YouTube| access-date=July 20, 2016}} One example of this is "The Underground Gourmet". It was about cheap restaurants in New York. Glaser wrote the column for seven years with Jerome Snyder. It was one of the most popular columns in the magazine. New York "became the model for the city magazines, and stimulated a host of imitations". Glaser left the magazine in 1977.{{cite web | url = https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/milton-glaser-new-york-and-iny-designer-dies-at-91.html | title = Milton Glaser, Co-Founder of New York Magazine and Creator of 'I❤NY,' Dies at 91| first = Christopher | last = Bonanos | work = New York | access-date = June 27, 2020| date = June 26, 2020}} In 1993, thanks to Glaser's history with New York, he was tapped by John F. Kennedy Jr., in conjunction with his partner Michael J. Berman, to work with them to create the image they were seeking for their start-up magazine George.

= Typography =

In 1970, Glaser designed his namesake typeface, [https://www.linotype.com/89171/glaser-stencil-family.html Glaser Stencil], which drew inspiration from geometric sans-serif fonts such as Futura and Avant Garde.{{cite web|url=https://www.linotype.com/406/milton-glaser.html|title=FONT DESIGNER – MILTON GLASER|publisher=Linotype}}

==Fonts Designed ==

Art Decko (Photo Lettering Inc.) {{cite book |last=Chwast |first=Seymour |title=The Push Pin Graphic, A Quarter Century of Innovative Design and Illustration |publisher=Chronicle Books |location=San Francisco, California |year=2004 |pages=249–50}}
Babycurls (Photo Lettering Inc.)
Babyfat (1964, Photo Lettering Inc.)
Babyteeth (1966, Photo Lettering Inc.)
Eightway (1964, Photo Lettering Inc.), with George Leavitt
Futura Stencil (1970, Mergenthaler)
Glazer Stencil (1970, Mergenthaler)
Houdini (1969, Photo Lettering Inc.)
Rainbow! (1987, Photo Lettering Inc.)
Stencil Select (1970, Mergenthaler)

= Pomilio Blumm =

In 2019, Glaser redesigned the historical 'rhino' logo of the Italian communication agency Pomilio Blumm.{{cite web|last=Baldini|first=Alessandra|date=2020-06-27|title=Morto Glaser, disegnò iconica scritta I love NY - Lifestyle|url=https://www.ansa.it/canale_lifestyle/notizie/design_giardino/2020/06/27/morto-glaser-disegno-iconica-scritta-i-love-ny_e6fe46df-37f8-419c-a3d8-65f4023e249f.html|access-date=2022-02-25|website=ANSA.it|language=it}} Stemming from this experience, a documentary titled A Social Design Story was produced.{{cite web|title=A Social Design Story - A journey with Milton Glaser (2020)|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-n3adbk/a-social-design-story-a-journey-with-milton-glaser/|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Radio Times|language=en}}

Awards

In 2004, Glaser won a National Design Award Lifetime Achievement from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for his profound and meaningful long-term contributions to the contemporary practice of design.

In 2009, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Glaser is the first graphic designer to have received this award.

Glaser was honored as one of The New Jewish Home's 2015 Eight Over Eighty honorees.{{cite web|url=https://jewishhome.org/honorees/milton-glaser/|title=Milton Glaser|publisher=Jewish Home|access-date=June 26, 2020}}

Selected works

File:Brookylnbrewery.svg|Brooklyn Brewery logo

File:DC Bullet (SVG).svg|DC Comics logo, 1977–2005, 2024-Current

File:LaG-Arts-logo.svg|LaGuardia High School logo

File:Stony Brook University logo.svg|Stony Brook University logo

File:SBSH logo.gif|Stony Brook Southampton logo

Publications

{{Cite book|title=Sketch and Finish: The Journey from Here to There|last=Glaser|first=Milton|date=2020|publisher=Princeton Architectural Press|isbn=9781616899615|location=Hudson, N.Y.|url-access=registration|url=https://www.papress.com/goItem.dna?isbn=9781616899615}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}