I “Heart”…

Before I knew his name, I knew his work. Like a lot of people. I am sure I learned the name when I was studying graphic design in the early 80s. By then, his work had became an integral part of American pop culture.

If you do a Google search for Milton Glaser, the results will describe him as an American graphic designer. American. Which seems to be a pretty accurate description. Although, New York graphic designer would also be pretty darn accurate, too.

His work was distinctive, of a time and a place. But also timeless. So much so, that when Mad Men (as described by Google, an American drama series) wanted artwork to advertise its final season, they turned to Glaser. Who better to recreate the psychedelic, hippy, dippy look of the 1960s, than the guy who actually helped to create that look in the first place?

And in the late 70s, when New York City need a little (okay, a lot of) love. Glaser created the iconic “I ❤ NY” logo for a marketing campaign that was only supposed to last a few months. The initial sketch, drawn quickly in the back of a taxi with a red crayon, now resides in the Museum of Modern Art. The logo is still instantly recognized today over 40 years later. It produced an avalanche of look-a-like clones proclaiming the to the world that we “❤” all sort of things. I kind of think of that heart as a the ancestor of the modern emoji.

Milton Glaser passed away at the end of June. According to his obituary in the Washington Post, he was the only graphic designer to receive the National Medal of Arts. He made the world a bit more colorful, a bit more fun. Gave it a bit more heart. We all “❤” Milton Glaser.