Many designers turn to motivational quotes when creative block sets in. These are powerful phrases from industry leaders that have become mantras for the entire design industry, inspiring both budding and professional graphic artists.
We’ve chosen 10 graphic design quotes from true visionaries to help you get out of your creative rut and back to making great work.
1.
Steve Jobs was an American entrepreneur who is still remembered as a business icon today. Jobs co-founded Apple, Inc. and served as its CEO and chairman. He was also the primary investor and chairman of Pixar Animation Studios.
2.
Paul Rand was a modernist design master. He was a graphic designer and art director who created the famous logos for IBM, ABC, Westinghouse, Enron, and UPS.
3.
Saul Bass is widely regarded as one of the most influential graphic designers in American history. He was an Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for his work on title sequences, posters, and corporate logos.
4.
Massimo Vignelli was an Italian designer who specialized in everything from packaging to housewares. He was particularly talented in the areas of furniture design, public signage, and showroom design. Vignelli’s emphasis was on simplicity, which he achieved by the use of basic geometric forms.
5.
Milton Glaser is the personification of American graphic design. He is extremely imaginative and is credited with creating the sophisticated, exuberant advertising look of the late 1960s. He created the famous psychedelic Mad Men artwork, as well as the ubiquitous I Love NY logo.
6.
Charles Eames is best known for his groundbreaking work in architecture, furniture design, industrial design and manufacturing, and photography.
7.
Michael Bierut is the recipient of several design awards, the founder of Design Observer, and a professor at Yale School of Art and Yale School of Management. His portfolio includes design work for clients such as the New York Times, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harley-Davidson, Mastercard, Mohawk Paper Mills, New World Symphony, the New York Jets, among others.
8.
Paula Scher is widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential American graphic designers. She was Pentagram’s first female principal, and she has created branding, advertising materials, graphics, publication, and packaging designs for a diverse range of clients, including Bloomberg, Microsoft, Tiffany & Co., Coca-Cola, Shake Shack, Citibank, the Museum of Modern Art, the Sundance Institute, and many more.
9.
New York Magazine dubbed George Lois a visionary and an advertising genius. He is well-known for his contributions to Esquire magazine. From 1962 to 1972, he produced 92 covers for the iconic magazine.
10.
Kate Moross is a graphic designer, illustrator, and art director based in London. She won the Creative Future award in 2007 and is quickly becoming a rising star in the design world.