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AIGA NY › The Push Pin Influence
The Push Pin Influence

Tuesday 16 November 2004

Haft Auditorium, F.I.T. Building C
27th Street at Seventh Avenue
6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Wine and snacks reception
7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Presentation


The name Push Pin has come to define both an aesthetic and an era of graphic design that has left a lasting mark on the profession, from its inception in 1954 through today. This multi-generational event will be a tribute to the legendary studio, featuring Push Pin founding members Seymour Chwast and Milton Glaser. Designer Martin Venezky will provide an introduction, and Paula Scher, Noreen Morioka, and Armin Vit will discuss the influence Push Pin has had on their work. Steven Heller, co-editor/author of the newly released Push Pin Graphic (Chronicle Books, 2004) will moderate the discussion.

Co-presented with Society of Publication Designers

Seymour Chwast is co-founder of Push Pin Studios and since 1981 has been director of the Pushpin Group. His work has been used in advertising, animated films, and editorial, corporate and environmental graphics. He has designed and illustrated more than thirty children’s books and over 100 posters. His work has been the subject of three books including, Seymour Chwast: The Left-Handed Designer (Abrams, 1985). He has lectured and exhibited worldwide and is in the Art Director’s Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of the 1985 Medal from the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Milton Glaser has been a seminal figure in graphic design for over fifty years, originally as a founder of Pushpin Studio and in recent years as the head of the multi-disciplinary design firm, Milton Glaser, Inc. Glaser draws on our entire visual history to work on the broadest possible cultural canvas, including, but not limited to, posters, logos, illustrations, magazine and newspaper designs, interior and exterior design, books, web sites and design education. His recent book, Art is Work, was published in 2000.

Steven Heller, art director of The New York Times Book Review and co-chair of the School of Visual Arts MFA Design program, is the author, co-author or editor of over ninety books on design and popular culture, including the recently published, Design Literacy Second Edition, Times Square Style, Handwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age, Euro Deco: Graphic Design Between the Wars, and Push Pin Graphic. He is the consulting editor of VOICE: AIGA Journal of Graphic Design and is currently writing a biography of Alvin Lustig and Iron Fists: Totalitarian Graphics of the Twentieth Century.

Paula Scher has been a principal of international design consultancy Pentagram since 1991. As an art director in the 1970’s and early 80’s, Scher’s eclectic period-oriented typography for records and books became highly influential. Drawing from what Tom Wolfe called a “big closet” of art and design history, classic and pop iconography, literature, music and film, Scher creates images that speak to contemporary audiences, with emotional impact and appeal. Three decades into her career, these images have come to be visually identified with the cultural life of New York City.

Armin Vit is a graphic designer, observer and writer. He has written for VOICE: AIGA Journal of Graphic Design, Emigre, Eye, HOW and STEP among publications. His work has been published and awarded with much fanfare in numerous publications and books around the world. He is a founder of two lively interactive journals, UnderConsideration and the (in)famous Speak Up. Armin has recently relocated to Brooklyn and is a newcomer to the lecturing circuit.

Publication offer
The Push Pin Graphic, published by Chronicle Books ($50 retail), documents the in-house publication produced by Push Pin that presented the studio’s aesthetic to their clients, and the design world at-large.

Register in advance and purchase an autographed copy of the book, which can be picked up at the event. AIGA members receive a substantial discount.

Admission
Advanced registration
$15 AIGA/SPD member
$53 AIGA/SPD member with book
$10 AIGA student member
$48 AIGA student member with book
$25 General public
$80 General public with book
register

Prices at the door
$20 AIGA/SPD member
$10 AIGA student member
$30 General public
$10 Nonmember students with ID
F.I.T. faculty and student free with ID
Maintained through our ADV @ UnderConsideration Program
ENTRY DETAILS
ARCHIVE ID 2131 FILED UNDER News/Events
PUBLISHED ON Nov.08.2004 BY Speak Up
WITH COMMENTS
Comments
Robynne Raye’s comment is:

Cool event. Pushpin is one of the reasons we named ourselves "Modern Dog".

On Nov.08.2004 at 12:16 PM
Armin’s comment is:

Robynne, this sounds intriguing… please, by all means, elaborate!

On Nov.08.2004 at 12:18 PM
Robynne Raye’s comment is:

Well, 20 years ago I was familiar with their work, having seen it in design annuals. It had a real organic feel (still does) and is what I call, "illustrative design" meaning that many of there ideas are drawn out. I personally related to that process and so did my business partner.

More importantly, I like the idea of a collective of people working under an anonymous name. In the 80’s, it seemed very fashionable to call yourself something like “Raye Strassburger Design “, which sounds like a law firm to me and not very fun at all. I also like the idea that your ego takes a back seat to the work, and that people could work at Modern Dog and build their own name for themselves, without Mike and I taking credit.

Armin, I hope that sheds a little light. I’d love to go to this event.

On Nov.08.2004 at 12:42 PM
Armin’s comment is:

Very cool. And, yup, "Raye Strassburger Design" would not be able to pull the kind of work you guys do.

On Nov.08.2004 at 01:20 PM
JonSel’s comment is:

I named my cats Milton and Seymour. The influence on my work, though, is mostly felt when Seymour falls asleep on my keyboard and I can't do any.

On Nov.08.2004 at 02:03 PM
Daniel’s comment is:

I wish I could share this experience of having been influenced by Push Pin. I guess it's not to late if I'm willing to attend the event. What do you think Armin? Is it worth a second journey to attend and be influenced?

On Nov.09.2004 at 11:50 AM
Armin’s comment is:

If you could arrange to visit JonSel's cats during the visit… maybe!

On Nov.09.2004 at 11:52 AM
debbie millman’s comment is:

Is it worth a second journey to attend and be influenced?

I think it would be worth just about anything to see Milton and Seymour together again. To me, it is like seeing Dylan and the Stones at the same time! (yeah, yeah...I know I am giving my age away when I say that, but, whatever...)

As far as making the trip...consider this: when do you think you will ever get to see them on a stage together again in our lifetime?

On Nov.09.2004 at 11:56 AM
Daniel’s comment is:

Hmmm, the journey becomes more appetizing. There seems to be a magnetic energy between aigany.com and my VISA.

Debbie, I'm a dufus, I did not chat with you at Armin's get together at Plantain. I would imagine your going to be there to see Milton and Seymour, maybe I can redeem myself.

If you could arrange to visit JonSel's cats during the visit… maybe!

JonSel, are Milton and Seymour AIGA members (the fluffy ones)? Do you think they will be allowed to attend?

On Nov.09.2004 at 01:09 PM
szkat’s comment is:

robynne - i'm on page 117 of the Nov/Dec issue of PRINT.

lovely stamps you have there :)

congrats for making the annual!!

sorry for the minor tangent. i just love seeing someone for the first time and then suddenly seeing them elsewhere. just skimming the text of the page and caught your name.

On Nov.09.2004 at 03:06 PM
JonSel’s comment is:

are Milton and Seymour AIGA members (the fluffy ones)?

Unfortunately, they caused a little too much trouble at the last AIGA event they attended and had their memberships revoked. It wasn't pretty. They threw quite the hissy fit.

On Nov.09.2004 at 03:21 PM
Daniel’s comment is:

REVOKED! That's preposterous. Looks like the AIGA lost a couple of good members there.

On Nov.09.2004 at 03:29 PM
Feluxe Socksmell’s comment is:

This is one of those must see events.

Especially if you are young or havent seen them. Seems like a fairly steep entry fee but whos to complain. See you there, amigos.

On Nov.10.2004 at 10:23 AM
marian’s comment is:

I'll be there. Yup, all the way from Canada. Unless Debbie stops me, I think I'll be wearing thigh-high black boots as an ode to the Push Pin influence, so if you see me, say Hi. I might be lonely.

On Nov.10.2004 at 11:50 AM
JonSel’s comment is:

dang...sold out.

On Nov.16.2004 at 11:36 AM
Armin’s comment is:

Maybe there will be scalpers…

On Nov.16.2004 at 11:40 AM
JonSel’s comment is:

Great...looks like another night in the suburbs for me.

On Nov.16.2004 at 11:44 AM
Feluxe Socksmell’s comment is:

theres apparently about 50 tics on sale just

before doors open. as roger says "we wont be fooled again"

last weeks aigany draw was said to sold out... which was not true.

On Nov.16.2004 at 11:52 AM
debbie millman’s comment is:

marian--i'd never stop you from wearing thigh-high's--anywhere. just don't leave them lying around the house too long, otherwise they may go missing...

and felix, my darling darling man...can't wait to see you.

and for those that still want to go... (JonSel--email me, I have an extra ticket) we have sold 775 tickets. I think that the auditorium holds 800--so if you are feeling expecially lucky, come by and try.

On Nov.16.2004 at 01:05 PM
JonSel’s comment is:

I went (Thanks Debbie!). I approached. They signed. I must say the human Milton and Seymour were quite bemused — and hopefully not scared — by my request. Click the cat photo for a larger, readable version.

On Nov.17.2004 at 10:57 AM
debbie millman’s comment is:

JonSel JonSel JonSel

: )

so last night: it went well. really well. s & m were impressive. inspiring. armin rocked.

i have gotten many many requests for a transcript of some sort, or photos or slides of what was presented last night. so...i asked mr. heller if we could post our opening statements and the full creative presentation on Speak Up, and he said yes. so as soon as I get Steve's remarks I will post a thread. i also have photos from mr. weinberger and will also (hopefully) get bryony's. hope you enjoy...

please note: we will not be posting any other photos of JonSel's most lovely felines on that thread, so get it while you can right here.

; )

On Nov.17.2004 at 11:09 AM
Feluxe Socksmell’s comment is:

josel. nice. also, pathetic.

hey deb, i didnt go but

word on the street is

Armin was hilarious and the

rest was boring. suprising

because glaser usually delivers.

look fwd to reading heller details.

thx deb!

On Nov.17.2004 at 12:02 PM
parek’s comment is:

i went to the talk and found armin's presentation of how pushpin influenced him to be very humorous - armin, the stand up design comic. while all the speakers provided their own observations about the pp influence, i thought heller's moderation left something to be desired. his questions to glaser and chwast were very specific and i felt different questions could have allowed for more insightful responses from these design legends about their incredible careers.

On Nov.17.2004 at 12:07 PM