Debbie Millman

{{short description|American writer, educator, artist and designer}}

{{Infobox artist

| name = Debbie Millman

| image = Debbie Millman (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1961}}

| birth_place = New York, U.S.

| occupation = Artist
Writer
Designer

| education = Bachelor of Arts

| alma_mater = University at Albany, SUNY (BA)

| known_for = Host of Design Matters

| website = {{URL|debbiemillman.com}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Roxane Gay|2020}}

}}

Debbie Millman (born 1961) is an American writer, educator, artist, curator, and designer who is best known as the host of the podcast Design Matters.{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2022-02-22/how-a-brand-consultant-turned-designer-podcaster-became-the-antidote-to-joe-rogan | title=How a brand consultant-turned-designer-podcaster became the antidote to Joe Rogan | website=Los Angeles Times | date=February 22, 2022 }} She is the chair and co-founder of the Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, with Steven Heller and President Emeritus of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and chair.{{Cite web|last=Cowan|first=Katy|date=2018-10-25|title=Debbie Millman on the power of courage over confidence, embracing criticism and overcoming fear|url=https://www.creativeboom.com/features/debbie-millman/|access-date=2021-11-09|website=Creative Boom|language=en}}

Millman has authored seven books. She is a co-owner and editorial director of Print magazine.{{Cite web|url=http://www.printmag.com/author/debbie-millman/|title=Debbie Millman, Author at Print Magazine|website=Print Magazine|access-date=4 March 2018}} Her writing and illustrations have appeared in many major publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Magazine, The Baffler, and Fast Company and more. Her artwork has been included in many museums and institutes including the Design Museum of Chicago and the Boston Biennale.

Early life and education

Millman born in 1961 in Brooklyn, New York.{{cite web | url=https://www.aiga.org/membership-community/aiga-awards/2019-aiga-medalist-debbie-millman | title=2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA }} Her father owned a pharmacy business and her mother was a seamstress.{{cite web | url=https://www.aiga.org/membership-community/aiga-awards/2019-aiga-medalist-debbie-millman | title=2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA }} She attended the University at Albany, SUNY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Russian literature in 1983.{{Cite web|url=https://www.albany.edu/ualbanymagazine/spring15_debbie-millman.shtml|title=UAlbany Magazine – University at Albany – SUNY|website=albany.edu|access-date=4 March 2018}} During her university years, Millman wrote for the student newspaper and later became the arts and features editor in her senior year. It was in this role, particularly through tasks involving the layout and design of the paper, that she first developed an interest in design.

Career

= 1983–2004: Early career, Hot 97, and Sterling Brands =

Millman began her career in media, working for a cable magazine and a real estate firm before entering the design and branding industry with a role at Frankfurt Balkind.

In 1993, Millman became the off-staff creative director of HOT 97 in New York City, where she worked with Emmis Broadcasting general manager Judy Ellis and Promotion Director Rocco Macri to turn the dance music radio station into a hip-hop radio station. Millman created the HOT 97 logo in 1994 and then redesigned it again in 1999.{{cite web|date=April 14, 2003|title=Millman|url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20030414/SUB/304140719/new-executive-debbie-millmangood-even-when-shes-bad|work=Crains New York|accessdate=11 September 2017}}{{cite web|date=November 10, 2007|title=Design Observer Party: Denver, October 12|url=http://designobserver.com/article.php?id=5967|work=Design Observer|accessdate=11 September 2017}} Millman remained the creative director of the organization until 2005.{{Cite web|last=Vit|first=Armin|date=March 2, 2005|title=Speak Up › Design Stories from New York: Debbie Millman|url=https://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/as-it-was/002232.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-09|website=www.underconsideration.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109203842/https://www.underconsideration.com/speakup/archives/as-it-was/002232.html |archive-date=November 9, 2021 }}

In 1995, Millman joined Sterling Brands in New York City, where she eventually became a partner, the president of the Design Division, and chief marketing officer. She worked on the redesign of Burger King,{{Cite web|last=Vit|first=Armin|date=January 7, 2021|title=The King's Gambit: New Logo and Identity for Burger King by Jones Knowles Ritchie|url=https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_burger_king_by_jones_knowles_ritchie.php|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-03|website=UnderConsideration|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107131948/https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_and_identity_for_burger_king_by_jones_knowles_ritchie.php |archive-date=January 7, 2021 }} merchandising for Star Wars, and the positioning and branding of the NO MORE movement.{{cite web |url= https://www.fastcompany.com/1379760/introducing-guest-blogger-debbie-millman-design-matters |title= Introducing Guest Bollger Debbie Millman: Design Matters |work= Fast Company

|date= September 28, 2009 |accessdate=11 July 2017}} In 2008, Millman and her partners sold Sterling Brands to Omnicom and she continued to work there until 2016.

In 2002, Millman became the editorial and creative director of Print.{{cite web|date=June 1, 2008|title=Observer: Easy Writer|url=http://www.printmag.com/article/observer_easy_writer/|accessdate=25 January 2018|work=Print Mag}}

= 2004–present: ''Design Matters'', School of Visual Arts, curation =

In 2004, Millman founded a design podcast named Design Matters. The show started out at VoiceAmerica Business Radio, an internet radio network, where Millman paid them for airtime.{{cite web | url=https://www.aiga.org/membership-community/aiga-awards/2019-aiga-medalist-debbie-millman | title=2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA }} Bill Drenttel of Design Observer asked her in 2009 to bring the show over and introduced her to Curtis Fox, who has remained the producer every since.{{cite web | url=https://www.aiga.org/membership-community/aiga-awards/2019-aiga-medalist-debbie-millman | title=2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA }} Design Matters guests have included Massimo Vignelli, Steven Heller, Marian Bantjes, Tina Roth Eisenberg, and Stefan Sagmeister, Milton Glaser, Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel H. Pink, Barbara Kruger, and Seth Godin, among others.{{cite web |url= http://designobserver.com/topic.php?id=1039 |title= Design Matters with Debbie Millman |work= Design Observer

|accessdate=11 July 2017}}

File:AIGA Wisconsin.jpg

In 2009, Millman and Steven Heller founded a graduate program in branding at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.{{Cite web|url=http://branding.sva.edu/faculty/department/debbie-millman/|title=School of Visual Arts – MPS in Branding {{!}} Debbie Millman|website=branding.sva.edu|access-date=4 March 2018}} She serves as chair of the program.

In 2014, Millman became the president emeritus of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). She is a former board member and treasurer of the New York Chapter.{{cite web|title=For the past twenty years, Debbie has been President of Sterling Brands and, in 2014, was named president and chief marketing officer of the firm|url=https://www.sappi.com/judge-debbie-millman-2015|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=Sappi}}

She designed campaign buttons for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign,{{cite web|title=45 TOP DESIGNERS CREATED THE BEST BUTTONS FOR HILLARY CLINTON|url=https://www.visualnews.com/2016/08/05/hillary-clinton-button-designers/|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=Visual News|archive-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807133008/https://www.visualnews.com/2016/08/05/hillary-clinton-button-designers/|url-status=dead}} wrapping paper and beach towels for One Kings Lane, greeting cards for Mohawk Paper and MOO Paper, as well as playing cards for DeckStarter and various others.{{cite web|title=Designer Holiday Cards From Moo|url=http://www.howdesign.com/how-design-blog/designer-holiday-cards-from-moo/|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=How Design|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912192352/http://www.howdesign.com/how-design-blog/designer-holiday-cards-from-moo/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Design Conversations: Debbie Millman|url=https://philadelphia.aiga.org/designconversationsdebbie/|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=AIGA Philadelphia}}

In September 2017, Millman curated a show for the Museum of Design in Atlanta titled Text Me: How We Live In Language,{{cite web|title=MODA's Text Me: How We Live in Language Public Exhibition Opening|url=http://www.exploregeorgia.org/listing/62836-modas-text-me-how-we-live-in-language-public-exhibition-opening|accessdate=17 December 2017|work=Explore Georgia|archive-date=January 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123045816/http://www.exploregeorgia.org/listing/62836-modas-text-me-how-we-live-in-language-public-exhibition-opening|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|date=October 3, 2017|title=MODA's Text Me: How We Live in Language Public Exhibition Opening|url=http://artsatl.com/pervasiveness-language-text-me-moda/|accessdate=17 December 2017|work=Arts Atlanta}} featuring artists and designers including Ed Ruscha, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey, Neil Gaiman, Deborah Kass, and Lesley Dill. Arts Atlanta called the show a bold first curation. Millman co-curated conferences, such as HOW DESIGN LIVE, the 2017 AIGA National Conference.{{cite web|date=March 9, 2017|title=2017 AIGA Design Conference to focus on community, connection, and career journey|url=https://www.aiga.org/2017-aiga-design-conference-theme|accessdate=17 December 2017|work=AIGA}}{{cite web|date=October 24, 2008|title=20 Designers in 20 Minutes|url=https://www.aiga.org/video-gain-2008-2020|accessdate=17 December 2017|work=AIGA}} Since 2013, she has curated 30 Covers, 30 Days for National November Writing Month.{{cite web|date=November 4, 2013|title=30 Covers in 30 Days|url=http://www.howdesign.com/how-design-blog/30-covers-in-30-days/|accessdate=17 December 2017|work=How Design|archive-date=September 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915102948/http://www.howdesign.com/how-design-blog/30-covers-in-30-days/|url-status=dead}}

File:Chasten Buttigieg and Debbie Millman talk during their keynote session at the Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Summit.jpg

In 2022, Millman appeared on Storybound reading from her new book, Design Matters.

During her career, Millman has written articles for publications such as The New York Times,{{cite web|title=Sally Ride|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/12/30/magazine/the-lives-they-lived-2012.html?view=Sally_Ride|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=The New York Times}} New York Magazine, Print Magazine, Design Observer and Fast Company.{{cite web|title=Debbie Millman|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/tag/debbie-millman|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=Fast Company}}

Reception and awards

Millman's artwork has been exhibited at the Boston Biennale, Chicago Design Museum, Anderson University, School of Visual Arts, Long Island University, The Wolfsonion Museum and the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art. In the past, she was an artist-in-residence at Cranbrook University, Old Dominion University and Notre Dame University, and has also conducted visual storytelling workshops at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the University of Utah, Anderson University, Albuquerque Academy, the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan and the Type Directors Club in New York City.{{cite web|title=Visual Storytelling: A Collaborative, Interactive Workshop with Debbie Millman|url=https://www.tdc.org/event/visual-storytelling-collaborative-interactive-workshop-debbie-millman|accessdate=4 April 2017|work=The Type Directors Club|archive-date=September 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234112/https://www.tdc.org/event/visual-storytelling-collaborative-interactive-workshop-debbie-millman/|url-status=dead}}

In 2014, she received the Type Directors Club Certificate of Typographic Excellence for her entry in TDC61,{{Cite news|title=Member of the Month: Debbie Millman|work=The Type Directors Club|url=https://www.tdc.org/articles/member-of-the-month-debbie-millman/|access-date=4 March 2018|archive-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305063508/https://www.tdc.org/articles/member-of-the-month-debbie-millman/|url-status=dead}} 'Austin Initiative for Graphic Awesomeness' poster.{{Cite web|title=UC.Prints: Debbie Millman at AIforGA|url=http://www.underconsideration.com/prints/006.php|access-date=4 March 2018|website=underconsideration.com}} Her book Self-Portrait As Your Traitor was awarded a Gold Mobius,{{cite web|title=SELF PORTRAIT AS YOUR TRAITOR, 2|url=https://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/design/debbie-millman-self-portrait-as-your-traitor-2-20054655/|accessdate=25 January 2018|work=Color Ibus|archive-date=January 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143159/https://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/design/debbie-millman-self-portrait-as-your-traitor-2-20054655/|url-status=dead}} a Print Typography Award, and a medal from the Art Directors Club.

Her podcast, Design Matters has received a number of awards, including the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award{{cite web|title=Design Matters: Live with Debbie Millman featuring Abbott Miller|url=http://www.dcdesignweek.org/events/design-matters.html|accessdate=11 July 2017|work=DC Design Week|archive-date=October 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027085200/http://www.dcdesignweek.org/events/design-matters.html|url-status=dead}} and the People's Design Award.{{Cite news|title=Debbie Millman's Design Matters Wins People's Design Award|url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/debbie-millmans-design-matters-wins-peoples-design-award/|access-date=4 March 2018}} In 2015, iTunes named it one of the best podcasts of the year.{{Cite web|last=Millman|first=Debbie|title=About the Show on|url=http://www.debbiemillman.com/designmatters/about-the-show/|access-date=4 April 2017|website=debbiemillman.com|archive-date=April 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405073535/http://www.debbiemillman.com/designmatters/about-the-show/|url-status=dead}} It was recognized as a Webby Honoree in 2018.{{Cite web|title=DESIGN MATTERS WITH DEBBIE MILLMAN|url=https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2018/podcasts-digital-audio/features/best-individual-episode/design-matters-with-debbie-millman/|access-date=13 May 2018|work=Webby Awards}}

In 2021, she was named to Fast Company's Queer 50 list.{{Cite web|title=Announcing Fast Company's second annual Queer 50 list|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/queer-50/2021|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Fast Company|language=en-US}}

Advocacy

Millman was involved with the creation of the NO MORE movement and worked on the team to design a new visual symbol to express universal support for ending domestic violence and sexual assault.{{cite web |url= http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/projects-profiles/debbie-millman-no-more-project/ |title= My Best Work: Debbie Millman Shares the NO MORE Project |work= How Design |date= June 12, 2012 |accessdate= 11 September 2017 |archive-date= November 2, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171102090055/http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/projects-profiles/debbie-millman-no-more-project/ |url-status= dead }}

Millman is also on the board of the Joyful Heart Foundation and created the identity for the non-profit with her students at the School of Visual Arts.{{cite web |url= http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/about-us/board-directors |title= Board of Directors |publisher= Joyful Heart Foundation |accessdate=11 September 2017}}

Personal life

Millman is married to author Roxane Gay. On July 9, 2020 Gay tweeted that they had already eloped but planned to have a proper ceremony officiated by Gloria Steinem in 2021.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-09|title=Gloria Steinem to Marry Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman in Jewish Ceremony|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/318703/gloria-steinem-to-marry-roxane-gay-and-debbie-millman-in-jewish-ceremony/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Jewish Journal|language=en-US}}

Published works

{{Cite book|title=How To Think Like A Great Graphic Designer|date=2007|publisher=Allworth Press|isbn=9781581156355|location=New York|oclc=181142646}}
{{Cite book|title=The Essential Principles of Graphic Design|date=2008|publisher=How Books|isbn=9781600610479|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|oclc=176923189}}
{{Cite book|title=Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design|date=2009|publisher=HOW Books|isbn=9781600613210|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|oclc=299713300}}
{{Cite book|title=Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits|date=2011|publisher=Allworth Press|isbn=9781581158649|location=New York|oclc=696099142}}
{{Cite book|title=Self-Portrait As Your Traitor|date=2012|publisher=HOW Books|isbn=978-1440334610|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|oclc=865535167}}
{{Cite book|title=Brand Bible: The Complete Guide to Building, Designing, and Sustaining Brands|date=2012|publisher=Rockport Publishers|isbn=9781610581981|location=Beverly, Massachusetts|oclc=795526435}}
{{Cite book|title=Why Design Matters: Conversations with the World's Most Creative People|publisher=Harper Design |location=New York|year=2021|isbn=978-0062872968 |oclc=1276799504}}