Steven Heller

· Apr 14, 2026

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column spotlights the revival of Roy Kuhlman’s distinctive hand-lettered style through a new typeface designed by Steven Brower, Craig Welsh, and David Jonathan Ross. The Kuhlman font, released through Ross’s Font of the Month Club, has already been adopted by major brands and cultural institutions. The article explores the typeface’s origins, aesthetic influences, and its unexpected popularity among contemporary designers.

· Apr 13, 2026 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews comic artist Michael DeForge about his new book 'All the Cameras in My Room,' published by Drawn & Quarterly. DeForge discusses his approach to satire, emotional storytelling, and the use of multiple visual styles to explore themes of technology, grief, and identity. The conversation highlights his influences and creative process behind several stories in the collection.

· Apr 10, 2026

Steven Heller reflects on illustrator Brad Holland’s lesser-known passion for poster design, revealing a large body of work discovered after Holland’s death. The article discusses Holland’s approach to creating original posters, his typographic sensibility, and plans for a posthumous exhibition curated with the help of his former assistant, Jonathan Twingley.

· Apr 9, 2026 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews Houston-based designer Jennifer Blanco of Field of Study about her self-published book 'How Not To Run a Graphic Design Studio & Other Hard Lessons.' The conversation explores the realities of running a small design business, balancing creativity with sustainability, and the design philosophy behind the book’s approachable yet rigorous visual style. Blanco reflects on lessons learned from experience and the importance of authenticity and continual learning in studio practice.

· Apr 8, 2026

Steven Heller reports on the debut of the Peanuts Symphony, a new concert experience performed by the Seattle Symphony and produced by Gershwin Entertainment Corp. The event celebrates Vince Guaraldi’s music and marks key anniversaries for both his career and the Peanuts television specials. The production features original animated backdrops from classic Peanuts episodes.

· Apr 7, 2026

Steven Heller reflects on the renewed excitement surrounding NASA’s Artemis II mission and his lifelong fascination with space exploration memorabilia. He recalls his youth collecting NASA ephemera and praises the design legacy of the agency’s visual identity, particularly the worm logo by Danne and Blackburn. The piece connects nostalgia for mid-century space design with optimism for the future of exploration.

· Apr 6, 2026

In this short Daily Heller column, Steven Heller reflects on the recurring claim that 'print is dead' and the new wave of anxiety surrounding AI’s impact on design. He argues that while technological and economic shifts are real, the doomsday narrative about design’s demise is overstated. The piece revisits an older essay of his to question whether such fears remain relevant today.

· Apr 3, 2026

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column spotlights Ghostly International’s 25th anniversary book, designed by James Goggin of Practise. The 488-page volume, published by Hat and Beard Press, chronicles the label’s visual and musical history through essays, interviews, and archival artwork. Goggin discusses his design process, balancing clean structure with the label’s eclectic visual identity.

· Apr 2, 2026

In this Daily Heller column, Steven Heller reflects on the enduring appeal of Japanese miniature food models, praising their meticulous craftsmanship and cultural authenticity. He describes his personal fascination with collecting these tiny plastic meals, viewing them as exercises in design appreciation rather than toys. The piece blends humor, nostalgia, and design critique to explore why such small-scale creations remain so visually satisfying.

It's Nice That · Apr 2, 2026

In this opinion piece, designer and writer Elizabeth Goodspeed argues that design writing benefits when designers themselves take part in it. She explores how writing helps designers articulate their thinking, connect their creative and analytical practices, and make design discourse more reflective and nuanced. The article highlights examples like Ray Masaki, Michael Bierut, and Steven Heller to illustrate how writing and design can inform each other.

· Apr 1, 2026

Steven Heller revisits George Lois’s 1965 Esquire cover for John Sack’s Vietnam War story, a typographic design that shocked readers with its stark message and minimalist power. The article reflects on how the once-provocative image has lost some of its impact in a world desensitized to wartime atrocities.

· Mar 31, 2026 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews illustrator Michael Sloan about 'Separation,' a new comic series in The New York Times created with journalist Jake Halpern. The series follows a Honduran family navigating fear and uncertainty amid U.S. immigration enforcement. Sloan discusses the emotional weight of the project, its journalistic rigor, and its potential to foster empathy and awareness.

· Mar 30, 2026 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews Eric Himmel about his new book 'The Art of Biodiversity,' published by Abrams. The book explores the intersection of art and science through 18th- and 19th-century natural history illustrations, highlighting artists like Ernst Haeckel. Himmel discusses his process of researching, writing, and designing the book himself, emphasizing the enduring beauty and influence of biodiversity art.

· Mar 27, 2026

Steven Heller reflects on the evolution of children's photography and the influence of social media on visual culture. Drawing connections between a 1930s photography book and today’s smartphone imagery, he muses on how new mediums reshape our ways of seeing. The piece also references Leonard Marcus’s exhibition at The Eric Carle Museum exploring photographic children’s books.

· Sep 23, 2025

Steven Heller’s article highlights the release of Civilization #7, the latest edition of the experimental broadsheet newspaper founded by Richard Turley, Lucas Mascatello, and Mia Kerin. The publication continues its exploration of language and AI-generated content, maintaining its distinctive black-and-yellow, text-heavy design. The new issue is available through Printed Matter, Magculture, and Public Knowledge Books.

· Oct 29, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews Hungarian media artist David Szauder about his surreal, AI-driven digital artworks that blend archival photography, collage, and animation. Szauder discusses his evolution from early computer graphics to generative AI, his collaboration with Anna Réka Baktay, and his installation for the Ludwig Museum. The conversation explores his fascination with the absurd, his ethical approach to AI, and the emotional intimacy of his visual narratives.

· Oct 29, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews Anna and Elena Balbusso, the identical twin illustrators known as the Balbusso Twins, about their collaborative process and artistic philosophy. The article coincides with their first New York exhibition at the Society of Illustrators, highlighting their research-driven, multidisciplinary approach to illustration. The twins discuss their evolution from separate artists to a unified creative identity and their commitment to complexity and experimentation.

· Oct 28, 2024

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column spotlights Dame’s bold delivery truck campaign, which turns vibrator advertising into a street-level spectacle. The piece highlights the brand’s mission to close the 'Pleasure Gap' and its design-led approach to sexual wellness products. Heller praises the campaign’s audacity and effectiveness in capturing public attention.

· Oct 8, 2024

Steven Heller’s article celebrates the 90th anniversary of 'The Story of Ferdinand,' exploring its enduring cultural and artistic significance. Curator Jane Bayard Curley discusses the new exhibition at The Eric Carle Museum, the book’s pacifist themes, and Robert Lawson’s masterful illustrations. The piece reflects on the book’s historical controversies, global influence, and Disney’s adaptation that cemented Ferdinand’s place in popular culture.

· Sep 5, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews illustrator and author Yevgenia Nayberg about her new graphic memoir, 'Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters.' The conversation explores her artistic process, influences from Soviet-era life, and how her visual storytelling captures both personal and historical experiences. Nayberg reflects on her style, her connection to Kyiv, and the resilience of creativity under political constraint.

· Aug 20, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews illustrator Gemma Correll about her new graphic novel 'Anxietyland,' which explores her lifelong experiences with anxiety and depression through humor and visual storytelling. Correll discusses the therapeutic aspects of creating the book, her influences, and her approach to depicting mental health in comics. The conversation highlights the intersection of personal narrative and design in contemporary illustration.

· Jun 24, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews D.B. Dowd about his new book 'Reading Pictures: A Cultural History of Illustration,' which examines illustration’s role in shaping literacy, media, and modern culture. Dowd discusses the historical evolution of illustrated books from the Middle Ages to the 20th century and how illustration intersects with ideology, consumer culture, and representation. The conversation highlights illustration as both an art form and a cultural document.

· Jun 10, 2024

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column spotlights 'The Illustrated Life of Terry Southern: Book One (1924–1938)', a new graphic biography by Ethan Persoff and Scott Marshall. The project explores the early life of writer Terry Southern through a scrapbook-style comic format blending archival research, illustration, and narrative experimentation. Persoff discusses the creative process, research methods, and the cultural relevance of Southern’s satirical legacy.

· Jun 10, 2024

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column reflects on the importance of well-designed food labels, tracing the history of nutrition labeling from the 1940s to the FDA’s standardized Nutrition Facts Panel designed by Burkey Belser. He recounts a personal experience with confusing Proposition 65 warnings on a gluten-free flatbread package, arguing that compliance alone isn’t enough—design clarity is essential to avoid consumer fear and misunderstanding.

· Jun 10, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column explores the Indiana-born tradition of 'senior cords'—hand-decorated corduroy garments that became a unique form of DIY folk design. The article features an interview with designer and editor James Sholly about the latest issue of Commercial Article, which documents the history and cultural significance of these garments with contributions from historians and curators. The piece highlights how this local fashion phenomenon evolved into a creative expression of identity and community pride.

· Jun 6, 2024

Steven Heller reports on the Sanitation Foundation’s 'Trucks of Art' initiative, where five artists transformed New York City sanitation trucks using leftover household paints. The zero-waste challenge promotes sustainability and celebrates the DSNY workforce through public art displayed across the city’s boroughs.

· Jun 5, 2024 · Interview

Steven Heller interviews Palestinian cartoonist Mohammad Sabaaneh about his forthcoming graphic memoir 'Welcome to Hell: From the West Bank to Gaza.' The conversation explores his experiences of imprisonment, censorship, and the challenges of creating political art under occupation. Sabaaneh reflects on his role as a cartoonist, the risks he faces, and the broader context of artistic repression in Palestine.

· Jun 4, 2024

Steven Heller revisits 'The Graphic Canon,' a three-volume anthology edited by Russ Kick that reimagines classic literature as comics and visual adaptations. The project, published by Seven Stories Press, features newly commissioned works from dozens of illustrators and explores the boundaries of the literary canon through graphic storytelling. Heller reflects on its cultural significance and the enduring debate around what constitutes a literary classic.

· May 27, 2024

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.

· May 26, 2024

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.

· May 13, 2024

Steven Heller profiles Irvin Ungar, the former rabbi who has spent decades reviving the legacy of Polish-born illustrator Arthur Szyk through exhibitions, publications, and a new memoir. Ungar’s work has reintroduced Szyk’s politically charged and intricately detailed art to modern audiences. The article highlights Ungar’s dedication to preserving Szyk’s message of social justice and artistic excellence.

· May 6, 2024

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column spotlights the overlooked artistry of cartoon title cards, inspired by the book 'Original Cartoon Title Cards' by Eric Homans and Fred Seibert. Seibert, founder of FredFilms and former head of Frederator Studios, reflects on the creative craft behind these brief yet visually rich animations. The article celebrates the design, typography, and illustration traditions that shaped decades of animated television.

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column explores Adrian Wilson’s collection of English textile trademark stamps from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The article details the handmade process of creating these metal stamps used by Manchester textile manufacturers, offering a glimpse into historical branding and production techniques.

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column celebrates W.A. Dwiggins’ meticulous craftsmanship in designing book spines by hand. The article highlights how Dwiggins treated even the narrow spine as a vital design surface, creating intricate, handmade type and ornamentation without additional pay. It underscores his dedication to detail and artistry in book design.

Steven Heller experiments with AI by prompting Gemini to design a book jacket for a fictional title, 'What Is AI Graphic Design?'. The resulting concept, complete with cover, typography, and chapter outlines, prompts reflection on the implications of AI in creative work. Heller describes the experience as both fascinating and unsettling, underscoring the need for ethical standards in AI-driven design.

· Interview

In this Daily Heller interview, Steven Heller speaks with Iranian designer Behnam Raeesian about his new poster series, 'The Fall of the Guardians.' The project uses stark, symbolic imagery to critique institutional power, faith, and authority. Raeesian discusses his intent to create a universal visual protest that transcends geography and speaks to global systems of control and silence.

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column celebrates Monopoly’s 90th anniversary and highlights a special TIME magazine edition devoted to the game. The article reflects on Monopoly’s enduring design, rooted in Art Deco aesthetics and American cultural identity, citing Daniel S. Levy’s analysis of its visual legacy. Heller positions Monopoly as an essential piece of the design canon.

Steven Heller reports on the upcoming Zig Zag Festival, a multi-day event in New York celebrating Italian illustration and comics. Organized by the Italian Cultural Institute of New York and Hamelin with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the festival features talks, exhibitions, and collaborations between Italian and American illustrators and publishers. The program highlights cross-cultural exchange and the enduring dialogue between Italy and the U.S. through visual storytelling.

In this Daily Heller column, Steven Heller reflects on his personal 'AI guilt' after experimenting with generative AI tools. He frames the issue as a moral and creative dilemma, weighing the convenience and potential of AI against its risks to artistic integrity and originality. The piece blends humor, confession, and critique to explore how designers might responsibly engage with AI technologies.

Steven Heller reports on the return of SVA D-Crit’s publication 2NDFL, now in its second issue titled 'Context Windows.' Edited by Eric Schwartau and designed by Andrew McQuiston, the tabloid explores design criticism and writing in the age of AI. The issue reflects the program’s ongoing commitment to critical design discourse and research.

PRINT Magazine’s Book Club featured designer Dora Drimalas discussing her new 640-page book, 'Curiosity in All Things.' The conversation, hosted by Debbie Millman and Steven Heller, explored curiosity, imperfection, and creative experimentation in an era dominated by AI and optimization. Drimalas reflected on Hybrid Design’s philosophy and the tactile, collectible qualities of the book as a celebration of print culture.

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column spotlights BLAG, the world’s only magazine dedicated to the craft and community of signpainting. Edited and published by Sam Roberts, the publication celebrates the global signpainting culture and its practitioners, marking five years of community growth with its latest issue, BLAG 08.

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column advocates for a long-overdue monograph on Brazilian designer Bea Feitler, highlighting her pioneering work across major magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Ms., and Vanity Fair. The article references a proposal by Serge Ricco and Bruno Feitler for an English-language monograph and calls for greater recognition of Feitler’s legacy through a book and exhibition.

· Interview

PRINT Magazine announces an upcoming Book Club event featuring Dora Drimalas, co-founder and Executive Creative Director of Hybrid Design, discussing her new book 'Hybrid: Curiosity in All Things.' The book explores how diverse interests and experiences inform creative work, showcasing two decades of Hybrid’s projects for major clients like Nike, Pinterest, and The North Face. The event will be hosted by Steven Heller and Debbie Millman.

Steven Heller reports on the return of renowned illustrator Guy Billout, who is presenting a solo exhibition titled 'Quiet Catastrophes' at the Philippe Labaune Gallery. The show highlights Billout’s signature surreal and geometric illustration style, marking his reemergence after years of limited visibility in the illustration scene.

Steven Heller’s Daily Heller column explores the exhibition 'Last Castle. Polish Castle-ness: From Wawel to Stobnica' at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, curated by Kuba Snopek. The show examines Poland’s fascination with castle-like architecture as a symbol of identity and continuity rather than wealth, featuring photography by Nicolas Grospierre, Mateusz Pawlukiewicz, and Marta Ejsmont. The article situates this trend within broader cultural and political contexts of post-1989 Poland.