The late, great Herb Lubalin

The late, great Herb Lubalin

Designers are a dime a dozen*, everyone with a computer is a graphics designer (no mis-spell there). Saying a great designers are one in a million would be an understatement. Then there’s that whole other level which is so rare that the level doesn’t even exist, Herb Lubalin was the definition of that kind of level.

Herb Lubalin put it down. Seriously, he did this over 60 years ago and it’s still every bit as amazing today as it was then. To say he’s one of the greatest designers ever would be putting it lightly. It’s a bit sad that graphic design & typography isn’t respected as much as other the fields of design because Herb was every bit as amazing as Frank Lloyd Wright or Charles & Ray Eames. I could comment on all these but there’s not really too much to say, his work was amazing and the world is lucky to have had him create the awesomeness that he did for such a long period of time.

Herb’s book is a cool $200 on Amazon. Maybe one day we’ll be lucky enough for the powers that be will wise up and reprint it.

The Gastrotypographicalassemblage wall of the CBS Cafeteria in New York which he did with Lou Dorfsman, a mere 33′ wide and 8′ tall.

If you want to read more about Herb, here’s a few articles to pass the time. Lubalin Now, the show which just ended at the Cooper Union in NYC. His wikipedia page and his AIGA biography page.

*random note: Funnily enough, I’ve been told this by an employer… who’s now out of business.