Paul Rand, USA

AGI member since 1955

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Born Peretz Rosenbaum, one half of twins, Paul started to draw at the age of 3. He was educated at Pratt Institute NY, 1929–32, followed by two years at Parsons and another two years at the Art Students League, with George Grosz. His design ‘background’ of Cubism, Constructivism and De Stijl led him to his unique American graphic language. Wit, simplicity and Bauhaus principles made Rand a great art director for Esquire and Apparel Arts magazines. In 1938–45 he created covers for Direction. For 15 years he worked with Weintraub Advertising Agency, before starting as a freelancer (1955). He then became consultant/designer for IBM, Westinghouse and NeXT. He created corporate identities for UPS and ABC Television. Paul Rand taught at Cooper Union and from 1956 at Yale. He wrote significant books and many articles on his work and was a fearsome critic. He was an honorary professor at Tokyo Tama University, an AIGA gold medal winner, and the first to be elected in the NY ADC Hall of Fame.

Design work by Paul Rand


    Paul Rand, USA (1955)

    Born Peretz Rosenbaum, Paul Rand started to draw at the age of 3. He was educated at Pratt Institute in New York, 1929–32, followed by two years at Parsons and...

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    Born Peretz Rosenbaum, one half of twins, Paul started to draw at the age of 3. He was educated at Pratt Institute NY, 1929–32, followed by two years at Parsons and another two years at the Art Students League, with George Grosz. His design ‘background’ of Cubism, Constructivism and De Stijl led him to his unique American graphic language. Wit, simplicity and Bauhaus principles made Rand a great art director for Esquire and Apparel Arts magazines. In 1938–45 he created covers for Direction. For 15 years he worked with Weintraub Advertising Agency, before starting as a freelancer (1955). He then became consultant/designer for IBM, Westinghouse and NeXT. He created corporate identities for UPS and ABC Television. Paul Rand taught at Cooper Union and from 1956 at Yale. He wrote significant books and many articles on his work and was a fearsome critic. He was an honorary professor at Tokyo Tama University, an AIGA gold medal winner, and the first to be elected in the NY ADC Hall of Fame.

    Publications

    plus

    Thoughts on Design

    (1947)

    • Paul Rand

    The Trademarks of Paul Rand: A Selection

    (1960)

    • Paul Rand

    Design and the Play Instinct

    (1965)

    • Paul Rand

    Paul Rand: A Designer’s Art

    (1985)

    • Paul Rand

    Yale University Press

    Design, Form, and Chaos

    (1993)

    • Paul Rand

    Yale University Press

    From Lascaux to Brooklyn

    (1996)

    • Paul Rand

    Yale University Press

    Education

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    Instructor

      1942 – 1942

      • Cooper Union, New York (USA)

      Professor

        1956 – 1969

        • Yale University, New Haven, CT (USA)

        Professor

          1974 – 1993

          • Yale University, New Haven, CT (USA)

          Professor of Summer Design Program

            1977 – 1993

            • Yale University and Brissago (Switzerland)

            Professor Emeritus

              1993 – 1996

              • Yale University, New Haven, CT (USA)

              Agencies

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              • Cummings Engine Company (Consultant)

                1961 – 1996

              • Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Consultant)

                1959 – 1981

              • IBM (Consultant)

                1956 – 1991

              • William H. Weintraub Advertising Agency (Art Director)

                1941 – 1955

              • Direction magazine (Cover Designs)

                1938 – 1945

              • Apparel Arts and Esquire magazines (Art Director)

                1936 – 1941

              • George Switzer Studio (Design Assistant)

                1935 – 1935

              • Metro Associated Services (Illustrator)

                1934 – 1934