Michael Bierut & Jonny Sikov
With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Michael Bierut stands as an exemplar in the realm of graphic design. A distinguished alumnus of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, Michael graduated with highest honors in 1980. He sharpened his design acumen for a decade at Vignelli Associates before taking a pivotal role as a partner at Pentagram in 1990.
Throughout his tenure at Pentagram, Michael has collaborated with an enviable roster of clients, including renowned names like The New York Times, Saks Fifth Avenue, MIT Media Lab, Mastercard, and the New York Jets (not to mention Seattle's very own Space.City), to name a few. He notably championed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, creating the iconic 'H' logo that became synonymous with her campaign.
“The great thing about graphic design is that it is almost always about something else.”
Leading from the front, Michael helmed the New York Chapter of AIGA from 1988 to 1990 and later wore the mantle of president emeritus for AIGA National. His contributions to the design community have garnered significant accolades, including his induction into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 2003 and the prestigious AIGA Medal in 2006. Further testament to his influence, Michael was recognized as the Design Mind at the 2008 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards and later served as the Henry Wolf Resident in Graphic Design at the American Academy in Rome in 2016.
Beyond his practice, Michael passionately imparts his wisdom as a senior critic at the Yale School of Art and lectures at the Yale School of Management. Co-founding the influential website, Design Observer, he also co-edited the critically acclaimed series, 'Looking Closer: Critical Writings on Graphic Design'. Michael’s insights shine through in his published works, notably "79 Short Essays on Design" and the transformative, "How to use graphic design to...change the world". His latest compilation, "Now You See It", debuted in 2017, adding another feather to his cap.
Design by Michael Bierut & Jonny Sikov - Pentagram
