Debbie Millman

Last updated

Debbie Millman
Debbie Millman (cropped).jpg
Born1961 (age 62–63)
New York, U.S.
Education Bachelor of Arts
Alma mater University at Albany, SUNY (BA)
Occupation(s)Artist
Writer
Designer
Known forHost of Design Matters
Spouse
​
(m. 2020)​
Website debbiemillman.com

Debbie Millman (born 1961) is an American writer, educator, artist, curator, and designer who is best known as the host of the podcast Design Matters . [1] She is the chair and co-founder of the Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, with Steven Heller and President Emeritus of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and chair. [2]

Contents

Millman has authored seven books. She is a co-owner and editorial director of Print magazine. [3] Her writing and illustrations have appeared in many major publications, including the New York Times , the Washington Post , the Philadelphia Inquirer , New York Magazine , The Baffler , and Fast Company and more. Her artwork has been included in many museums and institutes including the Design Museum of Chicago and the Boston Biennale. [2]

Early life and education

Millman born in 1961 in Brooklyn, New York. [4] Her father owned a pharmacy business and her mother was a seamstress. [5] She attended the University at Albany, SUNY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in Russian literature in 1983. [6] During her university years, Millman wrote for the student newspaper and later became the arts and features editor in her senior year. [6] It was in this role, particularly through tasks involving the layout and design of the paper, that she first developed an interest in design. [2]

Career

1983–2004: Early career, Hot 97, and Sterling Brands

Millman began her career in media, working for a cable magazine and a real estate firm before entering the design and branding industry with a role at Frankfurt Balkind. [6]

In 1993, Millman became the off-staff creative director of HOT 97 in New York City, where she worked with Emmis Broadcasting general manager Judy Ellis and Promotion Director Rocco Macri to turn the dance music radio station into a hip-hop radio station. Millman created the HOT 97 logo in 1994 and then redesigned it again in 1999. [7] [8] Millman remained the creative director of the organization until 2005. [9]

In 1995, Millman joined Sterling Brands in New York City, where she eventually became a partner, the president of the Design Division, and chief marketing officer. She worked on the redesign of Burger King, [10] merchandising for Star Wars, and the positioning and branding of the NO MORE movement. [11] In 2008, Millman and her partners sold Sterling Brands to Omnicom and she continued to work there until 2016. [6]

In 2002, Millman became the editorial and creative director of Print. [12]

2004–present: Design Matters, School of Visual Arts, curation

In 2004, Millman founded a design podcast named Design Matters . The show started out at VoiceAmerica Business Radio, an internet radio network, where Millman paid them for airtime. [13] Bill Drenttel of Design Observer asked her in 2009 to bring the show over and introduced her to Curtis Fox, who has remained the producer every since. [14] Design Matters guests have included Massimo Vignelli, Steven Heller, Marian Bantjes, Tina Roth Eisenberg, and Stefan Sagmeister, Milton Glaser, Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel H. Pink, Barbara Kruger, and Seth Godin, among others. [15]

Millman at AIGA Wisconsin, 2009 AIGA Wisconsin.jpg
Millman at AIGA Wisconsin, 2009

In 2009, Millman and Steven Heller founded a graduate program in branding at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. [16] She serves as chair of the program. [16]

In 2014, Millman became the president emeritus of American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). She is a former board member and treasurer of the New York Chapter. [17]

She designed campaign buttons for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, [18] wrapping paper and beach towels for One Kings Lane, greeting cards for Mohawk Paper and MOO Paper, as well as playing cards for DeckStarter and various others. [19] [20]

In September 2017, Millman curated a show for the Museum of Design in Atlanta titled Text Me: How We Live In Language, [21] [22] featuring artists and designers including Ed Ruscha, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Shepard Fairey, Neil Gaiman, Deborah Kass, and Lesley Dill. Arts Atlanta called the show a bold first curation. Millman co-curated conferences, such as HOW DESIGN LIVE, the 2017 AIGA National Conference. [23] [24] Since 2013, she has curated 30 Covers, 30 Days for National November Writing Month. [25]

Chasten Buttigieg and Debbie Millman talk during their keynote session at the Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Summit, October 20, 2023 Chasten Buttigieg and Debbie Millman talk during their keynote session at the Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Summit.jpg
Chasten Buttigieg and Debbie Millman talk during their keynote session at the Lesbians Who Tech & Allies Summit, October 20, 2023

In 2022, Millman appeared on Storybound reading from her new book, Design Matters.

During her career, Millman has written articles for publications such as The New York Times , [26] New York Magazine , Print Magazine , Design Observer and Fast Company . [27]

Reception and awards

Millman's artwork has been exhibited at the Boston Biennale, Chicago Design Museum, Anderson University, School of Visual Arts, Long Island University, The Wolfsonion Museum and the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art. In the past, she was an artist-in-residence at Cranbrook University, Old Dominion University and Notre Dame University, and has also conducted visual storytelling workshops at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the University of Utah, Anderson University, Albuquerque Academy, the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan and the Type Directors Club in New York City. [28]

In 2014, she received the Type Directors Club Certificate of Typographic Excellence for her entry in TDC61, [29] 'Austin Initiative for Graphic Awesomeness' poster. [30] Her book Self-Portrait As Your Traitor was awarded a Gold Mobius, [31] a Print Typography Award, and a medal from the Art Directors Club.

Her podcast, Design Matters has received a number of awards, including the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award [32] and the People's Design Award. [33] In 2015, iTunes named it one of the best podcasts of the year. [34] It was recognized as a Webby Honoree in 2018. [35]

In 2021, she was named to Fast Company's Queer 50 list. [36]

Advocacy

Millman was involved with the creation of the NO MORE movement and worked on the team to design a new visual symbol to express universal support for ending domestic violence and sexual assault. [37]

Millman is also on the board of the Joyful Heart Foundation and created the identity for the non-profit with her students at the School of Visual Arts. [38]

Personal life

Millman is married to author Roxane Gay. On July 9, 2020 Gay tweeted that they had already eloped but planned to have a proper ceremony officiated by Gloria Steinem in 2021. [39]

Published works

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Simmons</span> American graphic designer (born 1973)

Christopher Simmons, is a Canadian-born American graphic designer, design leader, writer, and educator. He is based in San Francisco, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paula Scher</span> American graphic designer and painter

Paula Scher is an American graphic designer, painter and art educator in design. She also served as the first female principal at Pentagram, which she joined in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Institute of Graphic Arts</span> Professional organization for design

The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is a professional organization for design. Its members practice all forms of communication design, including graphic design, typography, interaction design, user experience, branding and identity. The organization's aim is to be the standard bearer for professional ethics and practices for the design profession. There are currently over 25,000 members and 72 chapters, and more than 200 student groups around the United States. In 2005, AIGA changed its name to “AIGA, the professional association for design,” dropping the "American Institute of Graphic Arts" to welcome all design disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Bierut</span> American graphic designer (born 1957)

Michael Bierut is a graphic designer, design critic and educator, who has been a partner at design firm Pentagram since 1990. He designed the logo for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.

Jessica Helfand is a designer, author, and educator. She is a former contributing editor and columnist for Print, Eye and Communications Arts magazine, and founding editor of the website Design Observer. She is Senior Critic at Yale School of Art since 1994, a lecturer in Yale College, and Artist-in-Residence at Yale’s Institute for Network Science. Named the first Henry Wolf Resident in design at the American Academy in Rome in 2010, she is a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale and the Art Director’s Hall of Fame. In 2013, she won the AIGA medal.

Lorraine Wild is a Canadian-born American graphic designer, writer, art historian, and teacher. She is an AIGA Medalist and principal of Green Dragon Office, a design firm that focuses on collaborative work with artists, architects, curators, editors and publishers. Wild is based in Los Angeles, California.

Brian Collins is an American designer, creative director, and educator. He is the chief creative officer of COLLINS:, an independent strategy and brand experience design company. Previously, he served as chairman and chief creative officer of the brand and innovation division of Ogilvy & Mather for ten years.

Design Observer is a website devoted to a range of design topics including graphic design, social innovation, urbanism, popular culture, and criticism. The content of the site includes essays, articles, reviews, blog posts, and peer reviewed scholarship. It is the host of the architecture and urban design publication Places and the podcast Design Matters with Debbie Millman.

Jennifer Morla is an American graphic designer and professor based in San Francisco. She received the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Award in Communication Design in 2017.

Alexander Isley is an American graphic designer and educator.

Laurie Rosenwald is an American author, artist, Emmy-nominated animator, and principal of rosenworld, a design studio. A New York City native, she graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in painting. She is a recipient of awards from the Type Directors Club, Art Directors Club, American Illustration, Print Magazine, Communication Arts and AIGA. She lives in Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cipe Pineles</span> Austrian graphic designer and art director

Cipe Pineles was an Austrian-born graphic designer and art director who made her career in New York at such magazines as Seventeen, Charm, Glamour, House & Garden, Vanity Fair and Vogue. She was the first female art director of many major magazines, as well as being credited as the first person to bring fine art into mainstream mass-produced media. She married two prominent designers, twice widowed, had two adopted children, and two grandchildren.

Carbone Smolan Agency is an independent branding agency founded in 1976 in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gail Anderson (graphic designer)</span> American graphic designer

Gail Anderson is an American graphic designer, writer, and educator known for her typographic skill, hand-lettering and poster design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carin Goldberg</span> American graphic designer (1953–2023)

Carin Goldberg was an American graphic designer, publication designer and brand consultant. She was known for her cover designs for record albums and books, with her work appearing in and on the covers of the New York Times Book Review, the New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, and Wired. Her use of visual historical references generated controversy within the graphic design community.

<i>Design Matters</i> Interview podcast

Design Matters is a podcast founded and hosted by American writer, educator, artist, and designer Debbie Millman. Founded in 2005, Design Matters is considered "the first and longest running podcast about design". It is now hosted on Design Observer, which is published in partnership with AIGA. Debbie Millman has interviewed over 250 guests including Amanda Palmer, Chris Ware, Malcolm Gladwell, Massimo Vignelli, Steven Heller, Marian Bantjes, Tina Roth Eisenberg, Alain de Botton, Alison Bechdel, and Stefan Sagmeister.

Anne Quito is a design reporter and architecture critic based in New York City. A former reporter at Quartz, she is also the founding director of Design Lab, the in-house design team for Family Health International (FHI). In 2017, Quito won the inaugural Steven Heller Prize for Cultural Commentary from the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). In 2018, a story she co-authored received a silver medal in the Malofiej Infographic Awards.

Jennifer Kinon is an American graphic designer.

Noreen Morioka is an American graphic designer and co-founder of AdamsMorioka. She is recognized for her distinct California-influenced approach to visual communications. In 2014, the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) awarded the AIGA Medal to Morioka and her business partner Sean Adams for their contributions to graphic design. At present, she is Chief Creative Officer at The New Computer Corporation and frequently serves as competition juror and lecturer.

Laurie Haycock Makela is an American graphic designer and educator. She co-chaired the design program at Cranbrook Academy of Art in the 1990s along with her husband, P. Scott Makela. Both were honored with the AIGA medal in 2000.

References

  1. ↑ "How a brand consultant-turned-designer-podcaster became the antidote to Joe Rogan". Los Angeles Times . February 22, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Cowan, Katy (October 25, 2018). "Debbie Millman on the power of courage over confidence, embracing criticism and overcoming fear". Creative Boom. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Debbie Millman, Author at Print Magazine". Print Magazine. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  4. ↑ "2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA".
  5. ↑ "2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA".
  6. 1 2 3 4 "UAlbany Magazine – University at Albany – SUNY". albany.edu. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Millman". Crains New York. April 14, 2003. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Design Observer Party: Denver, October 12". Design Observer. November 10, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  9. ↑ Vit, Armin (March 2, 2005). "Speak Up › Design Stories from New York: Debbie Millman". www.underconsideration.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  10. ↑ Vit, Armin (January 7, 2021). "The King's Gambit: New Logo and Identity for Burger King by Jones Knowles Ritchie" . UnderConsideration. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Introducing Guest Bollger Debbie Millman: Design Matters". Fast Company. September 28, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Observer: Easy Writer". Print Mag. June 1, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  13. ↑ "2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA".
  14. ↑ "2019 AIGA Medalist Debbie Millman | AIGA".
  15. ↑ "Design Matters with Debbie Millman". Design Observer. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "School of Visual Arts – MPS in Branding | Debbie Millman". branding.sva.edu. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  17. ↑ "For the past twenty years, Debbie has been President of Sterling Brands and, in 2014, was named president and chief marketing officer of the firm". Sappi. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  18. ↑ "45 TOP DESIGNERS CREATED THE BEST BUTTONS FOR HILLARY CLINTON". Visual News. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Designer Holiday Cards From Moo". How Design. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Design Conversations: Debbie Millman". AIGA Philadelphia. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  21. ↑ "MODA's Text Me: How We Live in Language Public Exhibition Opening". Explore Georgia. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  22. ↑ "MODA's Text Me: How We Live in Language Public Exhibition Opening". Arts Atlanta. October 3, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  23. ↑ "2017 AIGA Design Conference to focus on community, connection, and career journey". AIGA. March 9, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  24. ↑ "20 Designers in 20 Minutes". AIGA. October 24, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  25. ↑ "30 Covers in 30 Days". How Design. November 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  26. ↑ "Sally Ride". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Debbie Millman". Fast Company. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Visual Storytelling: A Collaborative, Interactive Workshop with Debbie Millman". The Type Directors Club. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  29. ↑ "Member of the Month: Debbie Millman". The Type Directors Club. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  30. ↑ "UC.Prints: Debbie Millman at AIforGA". underconsideration.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  31. ↑ "SELF PORTRAIT AS YOUR TRAITOR, 2". Color Ibus. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Design Matters: Live with Debbie Millman featuring Abbott Miller". DC Design Week. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Debbie Millman's Design Matters Wins People's Design Award" . Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  34. ↑ Millman, Debbie. "About the Show on". debbiemillman.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  35. ↑ "DESIGN MATTERS WITH DEBBIE MILLMAN". Webby Awards. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Announcing Fast Company's second annual Queer 50 list". Fast Company. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  37. ↑ "My Best Work: Debbie Millman Shares the NO MORE Project". How Design. June 12, 2012. Archived from the original on November 2, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Board of Directors". Joyful Heart Foundation. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Gloria Steinem to Marry Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman in Jewish Ceremony". Jewish Journal. July 9, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.