David Hillman (designer)

Last updated
David Hillman
David Hillman1.jpg
Born (1943-02-12) 12 February 1943 (age 82)
Oxford, England
CitizenshipBritish
Education London School of Printing and Graphic Arts
OccupationGraphic designer
Known for Guardian Newspaper 1988 re-design; Nova magazine; Phaidon identity; Tate identity
Spouse
Jennie Hillman
​
(m. 1983)​

David Hillman RDI (born 12 February 1943) is a British graphic designer. He was a partner at design firm Pentagram between 1978 and 2006. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Hillman was born 12 February 1943 in Oxford, England. His father worked at Pathé News and supplied newsreels to cinemas. [3] Hillman attended Aristotle Central School in London. He later moved to The London School of Printing and Graphic Arts and studied from 1959 to 1962 under Tom Eckersley. [4]

Career

David Hillman began his career in graphic design at the age of 19, shortly after completing his education at the LSP. His first professional role was with the newly established The Sunday Times Colour Magazine under editor Mark Boxer. Alongside the daily work at the magazine, Mark and David also worked together with David Bailey to produce David Bailey’s box of pin-ups. [5] . In 1965 he left to join the editorial team at London Life as art editor. [6] He later returned to The Sunday Times, where he contributed to the design direction of both the newspaper as well as its magazine supplement. [4]

Hillman moved onto Nova magazine in 1968, overseeing art direction while also serving as deputy editor. [4] [7] Following the closure of Nova in 1975, he launched an independent studio, where one of his notable commissions was an overhaul of the French daily Le Matin de Paris, the first computerised daily newspaper. [4] [3] [8]

During this period Hillman was elected to the Alliance Graphique Internationale (1977). An organisation of which he would later take on two leadership roles – serving as its UK President from 1996 to 2000 and as International President between 2000 and 2003. [9]

Covers of The Guardian following Hillman's 1988 redesign. The masthead appears in Helvetica Bold, with supporting typography in Garamond Italic. The Guardian papers David Hillman.jpg
Covers of The Guardian following Hillman's 1988 redesign. The masthead appears in Helvetica Bold, with supporting typography in Garamond Italic.

Hillman became a partner at Pentagram Design in 1978 and remained with the firm until 2006. [4] As a Pentagram partner – along jobs including the Phaidon identity [7] [4] [6] , Tate Identity [10] and Il Sole 24 Ore redesign [11] – he undertook "one of the most influential redesigns of a national newspaper in the modern era" – The Guardian. [3] [7] [4]

During his time at Pentagram Design, Hillman also authored several books on visual puzzles, starting with Puzzlegrams in 1989. [7] [12] [3]

David Hillman photographed with several of his D&AD awards, 2025. David Hillman Awards.jpg
David Hillman photographed with several of his D&AD awards, 2025.

Hillman established his own studio, Studio David Hillman, after leaving the design consultancy. Over the course of his career, he has received several honours: in 1997, he was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry [6] , and in 2004, he was named a Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art. [13] In 2012, he was recognised by D&AD as it’s Most Awarded Designer. [14]

Work

Editorial designs

Newspapers

Magazines

Books

  • David Bailey Box of Pin-Ups [5]
  • Terence Donovan The Photographs [4] [21]
  • Terence Donovan Fashion [21] [22] [23]
  • Terence Donovan Portraits [21]
  • Terence Donovan 100 Fashion Photos [21]
  • Terence Donovan 100 Faces [21]
  • Nova 1965–1975 [24]
  • The English Sunrise [25]
  • Century Makers [26]
  • Puzzlegrams [7] [12] [3]
  • Puzzlegrams Too! [7] [27] [3]
  • Pentagames [7] [28] [3]
  • Phantasmagrams [7] [29] [3]
  • Pentamagic [30]
  • Yes Logo [31]
  • A Visual Feast [7] [32]
  • Tables, Boxes, Screens, Cabinets... - Adrian Quan [33]
  • Wonders of the Stereoscope [34]
  • Paris en 3D [35]
  • Pentagram Compendium [7]
  • Taking His Time [36]
  • The State Hermitage [37] [38]
  • The Splendour of Iran [39]
  • Essays on Design [40]
  • The Health and Beauty Book [41]
  • The Sixties [42] [4]
  • Play the Game
  • Hand & Machine [43]
  • The Salvation Army [44]
  • D&AD Annual 1974 with John McConnell
  • Stanley Spencer, The Complete Catalogue of Painting [45] [4]
  • European Photography 81 [7] [46]
  • European Photography Eighty Two, Eighty Three [7] [47]

Brand identity designs

Marks and logotypes

Packaging

Calendars

Signage

Exhibition designs

Exhibition graphics

One man shows

  • Hillman in Print. The Hub, Sleaford, 2009 [68]

Posters

Stamps

Retail

Honours

Notes

  1. ↑ "Hillman prepares to quit Pentagram". Design Week. 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  2. ↑ Shaughnessy, Adrian (2022). Pentagram: Living by Design, The Biography. Unit Editions. p. 49. ISBN   978-1-9164573-8-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shaughnessy, Adrian (2022). Pentagram: Living by Design, The Directory. Unit Editions. pp. 106–117. ISBN   978-1-9164573-8-6.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Yelavich, Susan (2004). Profile Pentagram Design. Phaidon Press. p. 172. ISBN   0-7148-4377-6.
  5. 1 2 Bailey, David; Wyndham, Francis; Boxer, Mark; Hillman, David (July 11, 1965). "David Bailey's box of pin-ups" – via Victoria & Albert Museum.
  6. 1 2 3 "Royal Designers for Industry". Royal Designers for Industry.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Gibbs, David (1993). Pentagram: The Compendium. Phaidon Press. p. 169. ISBN   0-7148-2812-2.
  8. ↑ "David Hillman". Design Week. July 28, 2000.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "David Hillman – Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) – 512 creative professionals from 46 countries". Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).
  10. ↑ "No Title". Design Week. February 16, 1996.
  11. 1 2 3 "Why the new Berliner gives me the blues". The Independent.
  12. 1 2 Hillman, David (1989). Puzzlegrams. Barrie & Jenkins Limited. ISBN   0-7126-2083-4.
  13. ↑ "College Honours". RCA Website.
  14. 1 2 "D&AD 50th birthday marks biggest names in design and advertising". The Drum. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
  15. 1 2 "If you ask me... David Hillman". pressgazette. May 24, 2006.
  16. ↑ "Haymarket 50 Years: The Hillman test". www.campaignlive.co.uk.
  17. ↑ ISSN 1756-364X, Anthony Quinn tony [at] magforum com. "Women's Glossies and Monthly Magazines: New Woman to Over 21". www.magforum.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "Hillman on magazines and newspapers, right and wrong". City of Sound. October 13, 2006.
  19. ↑ "Sutori". www.sutori.com.
  20. ↑ Turner, Jenny (February 9, 2020). "Jenny Turner · Diary: The Deborah Orr I Knew". London Review of Books. Vol. 42, no. 4 – via www.lrb.co.uk.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Books". www.terencedonovan.co.uk.
  22. ↑ Quick, Harriet (December 16, 2012). "Terence Donovan Fashion edited by Diana Donovan and David Hillman – review". The Guardian.
  23. ↑ "Art / Books | Publishers of fine illustrated books | Terence Donovan Fashion special edition".
  24. ↑ Hillman, David (1995). Nova, 1965–1975. Pavilion Books. ISBN   1857932978.
  25. ↑ Hillman, David (1972). The English Sunrise. Matthews Miller Dunbar Ltd. ISBN   0-903811-006.
  26. ↑ Hillman, David (1998). Century Makers. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN   0-297-82435-X.
  27. ↑ Hillman, David (1994). Puzzlegrams Too!. Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd. ISBN   0-09-178547-2.
  28. ↑ Hillman, David (1990). Pentagames. Barrie & Jenkins Limited. ISBN   0-7126-3588-2.
  29. ↑ Hillman, David (1994). Phantasmagrams. Ebury Press. ISBN   0-09-177041-6.
  30. ↑ Hillman, David (1993). Pentamagic. Prentice Hall. ISBN   9780671791858.
  31. ↑ "A biography of Michael Peters". Design Week. November 27, 2008.
  32. ↑ Traeger, Tessa (1991). A Visual Feast. Random Century Limited. ISBN   0-71264792-9.
  33. ↑ Quan, Adrian (2008). Tables, Boxes, Screens, Cabinets... Black Dog Publishing Limited. ISBN   978-1-906155-35-3.
  34. ↑ Jones, John (1976). Wonders of the Stereoscope. Johnathan Cape Limited. ISBN   0-224-01344-0.
  35. ↑ Musee Carnavalet (2000). Paris en 3d. Booth-Clibborn Editions. ISBN   2-87900-498-5.
  36. ↑ Evans, Tony (2000). Taking His Time. Johnathan Cape Limited. ISBN   0-224-01344-0.
  37. ↑ Piotrovsky, Mikhail (1994). The State Hermitage: Masterpieces from the Museum's Collection. Booth-Clibborn Editions. ISBN   1873968035.
  38. ↑ Piotrovsky, Mikhail (2014). The State Hermitage: Treasures from the Museum's Collection. Booth-Clibborn Editions. ISBN   978-1-86154-356-1.
  39. ↑ Pourjavady, N. (2001). The Splendour of Iran. Booth-Clibborn Editions. ISBN   1-86154-011-6.
  40. ↑ Marsack, Robyn (1997). Essays on Design. Booth-Clibborn Editions. ISBN   1-873968-24-8.
  41. ↑ Cooke, Gillian (1979). The Health and Beauty Book. Artists House. ISBN   0-86134-007-8.
  42. ↑ Mellor, David (1993). The Sixties. Phaidon Press. ISBN   0-7148-2863-7.
  43. ↑ Welch, Robert (1986). Hand & Machine. Robert Welch. ISBN   0-951085-50-6.
  44. ↑ Howe, Peter (1975). The Salvation Army. Aurelia Enterprises Limited. ISBN   0-904574-01-6.
  45. ↑ Bell, Keith (1992). Stanley Spencer, The Complete Catalogue of Painting. Phaidon Press. ISBN   0-8109-3836-7.
  46. ↑ Booth-Clibborn, Edward (1981). European Photography 81. Polygon Editions. ISBN   0-8109-0855-7.
  47. ↑ Booth-Clibborn, Edward (1983). European Photography Eighty Two, Eighty Three. Polygon Editions. ISBN   0-8109-0866-2.
  48. 1 2 "Our history | Royal College of Nursing". The Royal College of Nursing.
  49. ↑ Gazette, Press (November 17, 2005). "Launch gives an insight into the comment media".
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Adams, Sean (2004). Logo Design Workbook (PDF). Massachusetts: Rockport. ISBN   1-59253-032-X.
  51. 1 2 "The future of planning | WARC". www.warc.com.
  52. ↑ "Sekonda watches out for a new look by Pentagram". Design Week. February 14, 2002.
  53. ↑ "Hip designer casts top award in new light". South China Morning Post. August 23, 1995.
  54. 1 2 3 4 "Liverpool Biennial". Ami Gainford.
  55. 1 2 "Eye Magazine | Feature | Cup challenge". Eye Magazine.
  56. ↑ "Cunning stunts: Edinburgh Festival's greatest PR moments". Independent.co.uk .
  57. ↑ "Spaghetti Recordings Ltd. Logo – Graphis Portfolio". graphis.com.
  58. ↑ "Guardian Design Timeline". The Guardian. November 16, 2017.
  59. ↑ "AHRnet-Other-stream-Profile-".
  60. ↑ "Tate Modern's signage catches the eye". Design Week. August 31, 2000.
  61. ↑ "Way to go". Design Week. June 29, 2006.
  62. ↑ "Eye Magazine | Blog | David Hillman".
  63. ↑ "Chiswick Park – Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) – 512 creative professionals from 46 countries". Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI).
  64. ↑ "Angel Building | AJ Buildings Library". www.ajbuildingslibrary.co.uk.
  65. ↑ "Retail concepts are put to the test as Bullring opens". Design Week. August 28, 2003.
  66. ↑ "Entries for International Competitions – David King". May 2, 2022.
  67. 1 2 "Modernism: Designing a New World 1914–1939 | Pentagram | The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) | D&AD Awards 2007 Pencil Winner | Exhibitions | D&AD". www.dandad.org.
  68. ↑ "David Hillman in print". www.newexhibitions.com.
  69. ↑ "25 Manifesti per Napoli". Google Arts & Culture.
  70. ↑ "A Royal Romance: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Wedding in Philately | GB Stamps". Albany Stamps. April 21, 2024.
  71. ↑ The 71st Art Directors Annual and 6th International Exhibition 1993. Rotovision SA. 1993. ISBN   2-88046-179-0.
  72. ↑ "RESULTS HISTORICAL ARCHIVE – Society for News Design". April 30, 2025.
  73. ↑ "Pentagram leads Sign Design". Design Week. October 22, 1999.
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