Tibor Kalman: Perverse Optimist

by Michael Bierut (Editor), Beirut Kalman Hall

Tibor Kalman, probably best known for the witty designs of his company M&Co and his provocative work for Benetton's Colors magazine, defines the eclectic multidisciplinary approach that has come to characterize graphic design in the past decade. Eclectic is perhaps an Kalman's work ranges from journalism, advertising, and publishing to watches, paper weights, rulers, album covers, t-shirts, film titles, commercials, urban guidelines, and more. Born in Budapest in 1949, Kalman emigrated to the U.S. in 1956. He soon began working at Barnes & Noble, where he later became design director; he subsequently worked as art director at Artforum and Interview. His international acclaim came largely as a result of his work at M&Co, the trend-setting design firm he founded in New York City in 1979 and continues to run. Tibor, designed by Michael Bierut of Pentagram and edited by I.D. Magazine senior writer Peter Hall, is the first comprehensive collection of Kalman's work and ideas. This full-color title--numbering over 400 pages--includes a pictorial manifesto by Kalman, revealing his thoughts on magazines, advertising, sex, bookstores, food, and the design profession. Product designs, stills and storyboards from his film and video projects, and spreads from his book and magazine work are included, creating what Kalman calls "an almanac of oddities." An impressive list of essay contributors includes Steven Heller, David Byrne, Jay Chiat, Kurt Andersen, Paola Antonelli, Isaac Mizrahi, Ingrid Sischy, Chee Pearlman, and Rick Poynor.

Genres: Design, Art Design, Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Biography

420 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Michael Bierut studied graphic design at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, graduating summa cum laude in 1980. Prior to joining Pentagram in 1990 as a partner in the firm’s New York office, he worked for ten years at Vignelli Associates, ultimately as vice president of graphic design.

Bierut’s clients at Pentagram have included the Alliance for Downtown New York, Benetton, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Alfred A. Knopf, the Walt Disney Company, Mohawk Paper Mills, Motorola, MillerCoors, the Toy Industry Association, Princeton University, Yale School of Architecture, New York University, the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Library of Congress, the Museum of Sex, and the New York Jets. His projects have ranged from the design of “I Want to Take You Higher,” an exhibition on the psychedelic era for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, to serving as design consultant to United Airlines.

Bierut’s recent activities have included the development of a new identity and signage for the expanded Morgan Library and Museum; the development of environmental graphics for The New York Times Building; the design of an identity and public promotion for Philip Johnson’s Glass House; the creation of marketing strategies for the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation; the development of a new brand strategy and packaging for luxury retailer Saks Fifth Avenue; and the redesign of the magazine The Atlantic.

He has won hundreds of design awards and his work is represented in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, all in New York; the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.; the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany; and the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Montreal. He has served as president of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) from 1988 to 1990 and is president emeritus of AIGA National. He currently serves as a director of the Architectural League of New York and of New Yorkers for Parks. In 1989, Bierut was elected to the Alliance Graphique Internationale, in 2003 he was named to the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame, and in 2006 he received the profession’s highest honor, the AIGA Medal, in recognition of his distinguished achievements and contributions to the field. In 2008 he received the Design Mind Award in the National Design Awards presented by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Bierut is a Senior Critic in Graphic Design at the Yale School of Art. He is co-editor of the anthology series Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design, published by Allworth Press, and in 1998 he co-edited and designed the monograph Tibor Kalman: Perverse Optimist. He is a co-founder of the weblog Design Observer and his commentaries about graphic design in everyday life can be heard nationally on the Public Radio International program “Studio 360.” His book Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design was published by Princeton Architectural Press in 2007.

Publications

Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design
By Michael Bierut
Princeton Architectural Press, 2007
Order this book in Europe / North America

—Pentagram.com

Reviews

[Andrew Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting, very New York kind of man. On the one hand at the service of capitalism but eager to mess with the market in the service of his values and ideals. Definitely marched to his own drum.

[Titi Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un rebelde con causa que quería dar vuelta el mundo a través de su diseño gráfico.

3.5 estrellas

[Maroš · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice and comprehensive review of Tibor's work full of interviews and comments of other lunatics and design legends.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago I regularly bought copies of Colors magazine. I loved the unique in-your-face style of it, and how it was compiled and written for a truly global audience. Later I discovered children's books authored and illustrated by the amazingly creative Maira Kalman. Later still I discovered that it was her belated husband Tibor who had been the editor and driving force behind Colors. This book chronicles Tibor's path as an innovative, learn-as-you-go designer and creative genius. Alongside his wife they formed M&Co, a design firm that knew no bounds. Working with clients ranging from David Byrne to high-end restaurants, they never failed to produce clever, distinct designs. In the time since this book was published, Tibor died (I think) of cancer. M&Co lives on, but not without the huge void left by Tibor's absence. I would highly recommend anything he or his wife have had a hand in. In Tibor's own words, "Fuck committees. I believe in lunatics."

[Emir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edited by Michael Bierut and Peter Hall, the 420 page book features work highlights of Kalman as he started his career at a New York City campus bookstore, which is now Barnes & Noble, Kalman's work at M&Co, to his work on Benetton's Colors magazine under Oliviero Toscani. It features some writing by Kalman, and contributions about Kalman by Paola Antonelli, David Byrne, Jay Chiat, Jenny Holzer, Isaac Mizrahi, Florent Morellet, Leonard Riggio, Rebecca Robertson, Ingrid Sischy, Elizabeth Sussman, and Oliviero Toscani and essays by Kurt Andersen and Rick Poynor.

It's an essential read on Kalman. I read it while doing research on "Dada and Contemporary Graphic Design" paper but ended up not using any references from it, since I discussed Oliviero Toscani in more detail.

Princeton Architectural Press, 2000.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't get it, Tibor Kalman's supposed to be this Brilliant Graphic Designer, so I bought this monograph. However, upon reading it, I find that he pales in comparison to current versions of designer-as-superstar like Sagmeister. I guess he did it in the nineties and it was provocative but I found his work to be only marginally interesting. After I purchased this I realized I really actually wanted to purchase Bruce Mau's monograph (easy to confuse those weird foreign names).

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice compilation of Tibor Kalman's work. The book is very artsy with typography to look at for its design quailty - but I found difficult to read. The writing was not bad, just difficult to read under such red, yellow or black backgrounds. The images are very cool.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the only designer monograph I've really READ and find myself going back to. Has the usual monograph flaws—not very critical, overly self-aggrandizing—but to have all of Kalman's work in one place to reference and show students is wonderful.

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i pick this book up regularly off my shelf (when i have a bookshelf to speak of) and just flip through to find the most delightful bits and pieces of goodness. truly a brilliant man. and his wife, maira, amazing.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all the heavy-hitters of graphic design, Tibor Kalman is definitely my favorite. This beautifully designed monograph explores the world of one of the world's most thoughtful and clever designers, whose body of work seen all at once is quite moving.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though I'm not that interested in graphic design. It was very interesting for me to see what it was like to run a design firm (even if it's an unconventional one). Overall the more you are interested in graphic design and art the more interesting this book will be to you.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tibor's vision foreshadowed the international, delightful, absurd culture of the internet. For those of us that are "of a certain age" - the web can feel like a user-generated issue of Colors, delivered a daily basis.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there was a Mount Rushmore of graphic designers surely Tibor Kalman's head would be on it. Even if you have no hint of design aesthetic you will still marvel at his work. Thought provoking and funny Tibor could do it all. You've seen his work although you may not know it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

the MUST HAVE BOOK for the creative thinker. such an fascinating guy and his work is just so nice to look at.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might be scary to think about how much this book influenced my life and career.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When in a bind, I think..."What would Tibor do?"

[Patrik Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likeable guy with fascinating broad portfolio.

[Widgets & · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great monograph about the unique and passionate designer, Tibor Kalman. A must read for all young designers.

[Jen Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Tibor Kalman - this man is a legend.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how this presented a very complex portrait of the designer. Started out thinking he was a real jerk in the beginning but I grew to appreciate him much more by the end. Great design work too.

[Mike Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of Tibor's work and thinking.