Paul Rand revolutionized the world of American graphic design with his straighforward, simple and witty approach as well as his willingness to use many types of media. Although best known for his corporate logo designs, he also illustrated and wrote a small number of children's books with his wife, Ann, wrote numerous articles on design (as well as a few books), and even taught design at Yale.Paul Rand, born in 1914, led a long successful career, beginning with magazine cover designs and page designs in his early twenties (works which garnered the respect of Moholy-Nagi.) These early publications gave rise to his popularity and quickly led to his promotion to art director of Apparel Arts and Esquire.
However, it was his corporate logo designs that really skyrockted him to fame. Rand is responsible for the IBM logo, from it's solid form, to the lined form, and finally to the 'eye bee m' form.
Rand worked as a consultant for IBM from 1956-1991
In addition, Rand created logos for numerous other companies, including the American Broadcasting Company and the United Parcel Service.
Paul Rand's style is influenced highly by modernist works and the idea of "defamiliarizing the ordinary" (from Paul Rand: A Designer's Art)
Although he died of cancer in 1996, Paul Rand's legacy lives on, not only in his well known and widely recognized logos, but also in the way that he influenced graphic design as a whole.
Sources:
-Design Archive Online
-Logoblog
-Online preview of Little 1 by Ann Rand, Paul Rand
-Online preview of Paul Rand: Conversations with Students by Michael Kroeger
-Online preview of Sparkle and Spin by Ann Rand, Paul Rand
-Paul-Rand.com
-Picture source
-Typography Online
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