Milton Glaser is one of the most celebrated graphic designers in the United States. Milton was born in 1929. He always wanted to be an artist. So, he went to the High School of Music and Art and the Cooper Union art school in New York. He earned a Fulbright Scholarship that allowed him to continue his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy. He later returned to Italy for eight months to study lithography.

In 1954, Glaser co-founded the revolutionary design firm, Push Pin Studios, with several of his college classmates. Their work became famous for its simplicity and originality. Milton used any medium or style to solve the “picture problems” that his clients gave him. He designed book jackets, album covers, advertisements and illustrations. Other artists copied his many styles but Glaser maintained his success because no one could imitate his ability to solve problems visually.

Glaser co-founded New York Magazine in 1968. Glaser was president and design director. Glaser also served as the magazine’s “underground gourmet,” a food critic who wrote about good, cheap restaurants in New York City. In the Pixar movie Ratatouille, the food critic was based on Milton Glaser.

In 1974, Glaser began his own company, Milton Glaser, Inc. His artwork included everything from posters and magazines to the interiors and exteriors of restaurants, supermarkets and malls. He created advertisements and the visual identities for companies. The “I Love New York” logo that he created (for the State of New York) became the most frequently copied design in human history!

Milton Glaser’s work has been shown in galleries and museums around the world but, from the start of his career, Glaser has also been an active member of educational communities. He taught design at the School of Visual Arts in New York. His classes became part of one of America’s most respected art programs. He describes graphic design this way: “To design is to communicate clearly by whatever means you can.”

Milton Glaser continues to live and work in New York City. You can see his work, read about his projects, and send him an email at miltonglaser.com.

Portrait drawn by yours truly