Paul Rand

(1914 - 1996)

Probably best known for his iconic IBM logo and identity system of 1956, graphic designer Paul Rand virtually singlehandedly was responsible for changing the way American graphic artist worked in the mid-twentieth century. Highly influenced by modern artists, especially the Surrealists, Rand was known for "defamiliarizing the ordinary" as well as for his simplified typography and breaking from graphic convention. Typical "Rand-isms" include torn paper collage, handwritten type, and the use of stripes as a graphic element.

Rand's oeuvre included designs for corporate identities and logos, books and book covers, posters, advertisements, and countless other applications of ink to flat surfaces.

Please Note: While I do not list all of my Paul Rand finds here on Ars Longa, I do maintain a large directory of photos of my collection of Paul Rand book cover designs on Flickr.

Learn More At ...

• LogoBlog: Paul Rand
• Paul-Rand.com
• Wikipedia: Paul Rand