Paul Rand: The Art of Design, 13 September 2018 < Auctions

Auction /13 September 2018 12 pm ct

Few artists can revolutionize an approach to an art form, but Paul Rand did just that when he began designing graphics in the 1930s. From his early advertisements to iconic logos, Rand produced a graphic design style that would inspire and influence the postwar design ideology. On September 13th, Wright presents over 300 works from the collection of Paul Rand ranging from never before seen paintings and graphics to his personal collection of fine art and design that served as inspiration throughout his pioneering career.

To Design is to Transform

Few artists can revolutionize an approach to an art form, but Paul Rand did just that when he began designing graphics in the 1930s. From his early advertisements to iconic trademarks, Rand produced a graphic design style that would inspire and influence the postwar design ideology. Rand created countless icons throughout this five decade career, many of which are still in use today.

Paul Rand entered the design world with a goal to change the way designers approached the medium and to revolutionize the manner in which viewers saw the products. His early advertising works for Metro Associated Services, Esquire and Applied Arts magazine saw him begin to redefine the historic precedence.

When William H. Weintraub left Esquire to start his own firm in 1941, he offered Rand the role of Creative Director. Rand quickly used this opportunity to introduce his pioneering approach to graphic design on a wider scale. His eye opening campaigns for both new and established companies won him notice among designers, and firm’s sought his modern and radical approach. Rand saw design as, “a way of life, a point of view. It involves the whole complex of visual communications: talent, creative ability, manual skill, and technical knowledge.”

In 1956, Paul Rand would begin his landmark work for IBM, and over his three decades with the firm would fulfill his modern vision for graphic design. Rand was brought into the firm by acclaimed architect Elliot Noyes, who was hired to move the historic IBM identity in a modern direction. Thomas J. Watson, Jr., Paul Rand designs for IBM left not only an indelible mark on the company, but would forever alter the approach of modern graphic design.founder of IBM stated, “[G]ood design must primarily serve people, and not the other way around. It must take into account human beings, whether they be our employees or our customers who use our products” and it was this foundation upon which Watson, Noyes and Rand would develop the groundbreaking design ideology for the firm. While Noyes focused on the products and architecture, Rand began to develop the enduring visual identity. From his transformation of the iconic IBM logo to the revolutionary Eye-Bee-M rebus design in the 1980s, Paul Rand designs for IBM left not only an indelible mark on the company, but would forever alter the approach of modern graphic design.

For many designers, work for one large corporation would have sustained them. However, Paul Rand’s insatiable creativity allowed him to work from numerous others firms, while maintaining a number of teaching posts throughout his career. Rand also wrote innovative texts on graphics as well as the role of the designer.

For a man that revolutionized an art form, it is not surprising that he took a similar pioneering approach to this personal collection. Housed in a remarkable modern home that he designed with his wife Ann, Rand looked at objects acrossWorks from his collection were a source of inspiration, and some even figured prominently in his graphic work. the traditional categories of collecting. African sculptures and masterworks on paper by contemporaries adorned the walls of his modernist fieldstone and glass home, creating an intimate space that showcased these treasured works. Rand collected art alongside designs by other artists or objects that simply captured his eye. Works from his collection were a source of inspiration, and some even figured prominently in his graphic work. Rand saw each art form as communicating meaning and narrative.

Paul Rand’s legacy as a designer is immense, with scholars and viewers alike recognizing the tide of change he brought to the discipline. Steve Jobs, one of many to work with Rand and admire his work noted “Paul understood the purpose and power of a logo better than anyone in history…He was also the greatest living graphic designer”.

I just was always interested in art. It's like asking me how do I have breakfast; you know, you just have it.

Paul Rand

A House to Live With

In 1951, Paul and his wife Ann turned their attention to designing a home that conformed to their modernist aesthetic. Influenced by the work of Marcel Breuer, with whom Ann had trained, the Rand house in Weston, Connecticut remains a beautiful expression of their modernist ideology. In 1953, Esquire magazine declared the Rand house one of the ten best in America. The exterior, dominated by rich fieldstone, stood in stark contrast to the lively and colorful interior that showcased the architectural design alongside the Rands' art collection. This modernist masterpiece at 87 Good Hill Road is now on the market with Sotheby's International Realty.

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Originally published in Esquire, August 1953

Without play, there would be no Picasso. Without play, there is no experimentation. Experimentation is the quest for answers.

Paul Rand

A selection of works in this extraordinary sale are published in a bespoke, full-color catalog celebrating the creative production and collections of the iconic designer Paul Rand.
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Grace, dignity, passion and pleasure signal the presence and suffuse the atmosphere of anything worthy of the accolade art: a persuasive poster, a painting, an elegant room, a Gothic cathedral, or a simple utensil.

Paul Rand