Something I’ve been relatively aware of throughout my life, and intensely attuned to in this class, is the belief that some people are born with “glasses.” These hypothetical glasses differentiate some designers from the rest and make them extraordinary. Many people with any background or even interest in art can point out a great design; however, it takes a particular kind of person to create it.
This brings me to Milton Glaser; a man whose name nobody recognizes but his work has inspired a nation. Glaser was born with these “glasses,” which allow him to view the world through a different perspective, with a lens that is unique. When he was explaining his personal word mark, for instance, he simply played with the symmetry of his name. MIL TON GLA SER, what an obvious answer! It is so organic and perfect that it made me wish my name was Milton Glaser just so I could use the idea.
As upsetting as it is to see Glaser’s lack of recognition for his designs, especially the famous “I Heart NY” logo, there must be some satisfaction in seeing the impact of your work and watching it shape a culture. At the end of the day, I don’t believe that designers pursue design for money or recognition, but because they have a gift. They have the ability to see through crowded, busy messages and be left with a design in its most organic form.
