Spotlight Artist: C&G - IVAN CHERMAYEFF AND TOM GEISMAR

A big-time player in the identity and branding world, Chermayeff and Geismar have been in business since 1958. They have designed logos for international corporations including Chase Bank, National Geographic, Merck, Mobil, PanAm, PBS and many others. Both Chermayeff and Geismar studied at the Yale University School of Art and Architecture, combined they have been involved in over 100 major identity development projects since the inception of the firm.

Their approach to design problems is renowned for the amount of collaboration involved and client involvement in the process through which they work. While Robert Brownjohn was involved in the early years of their development, they parted ways after only a few years together. They have operated under several versions of the Chermayeff and Geismar name over the years and have completed an immense amount of work with various partners. Their website showcases a nice chronology of their work.

(from http://www.designishistory.com/1960/chermayeff--geismar/)

Links

• DesignBoom Interview with Chermayeff

• Company website https://cghnyc.com

• http://www.designishistory.com/1960/chermayeff--geismar/

Essential Questions

• How are C&G's designs Modernist? Are they? Why?

• How is it different from the European Modernists we've already looked at?

• After reading the interview above and checking out the website, what are three key ideas that stand out to you? Why?

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