Milestones: October 2019
This past summer, one of my design heroes, Milton Glaser, turned 90. He’s designed everything and then some, including the “I ❤️ NY” logo, iconic brands, beautiful illustrations and the colorful mural on the Federal Building in downtown Indianapolis. And he’s still designing, coming to work every day:
“Art and making things — particularly making things — are essential to our salvation,” he said. “I come to work every day and I sit down and I feel so happy, because I’m capable of taking something that exists in my mind and making it a physical thing.”
—Milton Glaser, The New York Times, July 4, 2019
Art and making things, what I’ve done most of my life, makes me happy, too. It’s incredibly rewarding to take an idea and make it a physical thing, to create a new reality and impact a small slice of the world. I intend to keep making things for the rest of my life.
In October 2019, designer and Pentagram partner, Paula Scher, will speak in Indy, which has me thinking about her a lot recently. On Debbie Millman’s podcast, Design Matters, Paula spoke about how a career in the design industry is like a staircase. Starting out in your 20s, the risers are tall because there’s so much to learn but the steps are shallow. In your 30s the risers aren’t as tall but the steps are deeper, still lots of discovering but you’re becoming a pro. In your 40s, you’re experienced, with the steps even deeper and now you’re competing with younger designers. By your 50s, the risers are low but the steps are very wide, you find you have power and clients are often your age, giving you good projects because you have a lot of knowledge.
According to Paula, your 60s are an extension of your 50s and she finds herself motivated by new things. “It’s a great time to be a designer, there are wonderful things to inspire and provoke,” Paula says.
That last part speaks to me.
In 2020 I will begin my 40th year as a graphic designer. I’m a kid compared to Milton Glaser; a “seasoned pro” to my colleagues. At 60, with experience, knowledge, wisdom and a little attitude I’m motivated to do more. More design. More art. More collaboration. More Illustration, animation, typography, photography, video, digital and analog products, websites, apps, books. I want to inspire and be inspired. Provoke and be provoked. I want to be more intentional about everything that I make. Milton Glaser is right, it’s essential to our salvation.
Starting October 1, 2019, you can find me here, at studioF60.com. Let me know if you’d like to talk about working on a project together, life is short, I plan to enjoy it.
