Paul Rand
Designer, Other
In their own words
everything is design
Articles & interviews
- PRINT Magazine Tags Songwriters Across Music, Writing, and Singing
Steven Heller recounts sorting through his design-culture ephemera collection during a bout of sciatica and rediscovering vintage cigarette packages. He considers the seductive package, label and advertising design of Egyptian-made tobacco products, describing their graphic style as orientalism intended to communicate premium imported quality.
- Modern Brand Design History: From Olivetti to Instagram
The article presents an excerpt from Taschen’s book *The Elements of Brand Design* by Katharina Sussek and Jens Müller of Vista studio. It traces the evolution of modern brand design from early industrial-era symbols to contemporary corporate identities, highlighting milestones from AEG and Olivetti to IBM and Instagram. The piece contextualizes how design has shaped brand recognition and identity across history.
- 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.
- “I just love this endless exploration!” Tatiana Egoshina on why she thrives in the design world
The Brand Identity interviews Turkey-based multimedia designer Tatiana Egoshina about her evolution from fine art to digital design, her work at Readymag, and her independent projects. She discusses her approach to experimentation, her love of typography, and her passion for continuous creative exploration.
- Paul Rand Book Lands Front-Page Book Review Feature
Steven Heller recounts how Paul Rand’s 1985 book 'A Designer’s Art' became the first graphic design book to receive a front-page feature in The New York Times Book Review. Heller, then an art director at the Times, helped facilitate the review and suggested Alan Fern as the reviewer. The article reflects on the significance of this milestone for design recognition in mainstream media.
- Why Designers Matter More in an AI-Driven World
In this PRINT Magazine opinion piece, Justin Ahrens explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the design landscape. He argues that while AI tools like Canva and Claude make creation faster and more accessible, they also amplify the need for human judgment, taste, and meaning. The article positions designers as essential guides in an era of automated creativity, emphasizing responsibility, clarity, and emotional intelligence.