Bradbury Thompson
Designer
Articles & interviews3
- Memorial Day Revisits Thomas Maitland Cleland’s Sharp Design Critique
Steven Heller revisits Thomas Maitland Cleland’s 1940 essay 'Harsh Words,' a sharp critique of modernist design and functionalism delivered at an AIGA event. The article contextualizes Cleland’s neo-classical stance against the rise of modernism and industrial design, highlighting his defense of craftsmanship and typographic tradition. Heller reflects on how Cleland’s arguments still resonate in today’s debates about originality and technology in design.
- Thomas Maitland Cleland’s Harsh Design Critique Still Resonates Today
Steven Heller revisits Thomas Maitland Cleland’s 1940 essay 'Harsh Words,' a scathing critique of modernist design and functionalism delivered at an AIGA event. The piece highlights Cleland’s defense of craftsmanship and ornamentation against the rise of industrial and modernist aesthetics, showing how his arguments still resonate in today’s debates about technology and design standards.
- How USPS Stamps Became Graphic Icons for New Audiences
Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column explores how U.S. postage stamps evolved from utilitarian objects into graphic icons that reflect American culture. The article highlights the 1967 Thoreau 'hippie stamp' and Al Hirschfeld’s 1991 'Comedians' series as milestones in the USPS’s design history, emphasizing the role of illustration and cultural storytelling in stamp design. It also references Gail Anderson and Brian E. Smith’s new book 'Forever Stamps' celebrating 250 years of U.S. postal history.