Paul Rand is one of the most famous American graphic designers. He studied in the 1930s at Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design, and the Art Students League. He worked in media promotion, book design, advertising design and corporate identity design. His identity design included logos for IBM, Westinghouse, UPS, and ABC television.

Explore the Design Reviewed archive to discover artefacts designed by Paul Rand. The American Modernism collection captures the movement he helped bring to international prominence, while the United States archive reflects the commercial design culture he transformed. Browse the 1950s and 1960s decade pages to find work from his most prolific period, or explore the book format collection.

Articles Featuring the Work of Paul Rand

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These advertisements marked a move away from the illustrated American ads of glamour and American life, and instead used modernist principles and illustrated animals and characters to have a friendlier, more distinctive style of communication.

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Paul Rand, one of the most acclaimed American designers is known for his iconic corporate identities, playful illustration and commercial art. Paul wrote the preface for Yusaku Kamakura's book, Trademarks of the World, 1958. He states his influence of Japanese art and design, trademarks as a universal language and his struggles with English grammar.

Artefacts Featuring the Work of Paul Rand

Paul Rand: His Work from 1946 to 1958, Alfred A. Knopf, 1959

From the graphic design archive:

Paul Rand: His Work from 1946 to 1958, Alfred A. Knopf, 1959

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 1959
Graphik – Werbung + Formgebung, 04, 1958

From the graphic design archive:

Graphik – Werbung + Formgebung, 04, 1958

  • Format: Magazine
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 1958
IBM graphic design guide from 1969 to 1987, Editions Empire, Paris, 2018

From the graphic design archive:

IBM graphic design guide from 1969 to 1987, Editions Empire, Paris, 2018

  • Format: Book / Brand Guidelines
  • Year: 2018
Thoughts on Design, Chronicle Books, 2014

From the graphic design archive:

Thoughts on Design, Chronicle Books, 2014

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 2014
From Lascaux to Brooklyn: Paul Rand, Yale University Press, 1996

From the graphic design archive:

From Lascaux to Brooklyn: Paul Rand, Yale University Press, 1996

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 1996
Paul Rand, Phaidon, 2002

From the graphic design archive:

Paul Rand, Phaidon, 2002

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 2002
Paul Rand – A Designer’s Art, Yale University Press, 1985

From the graphic design archive:

Paul Rand – A Designer’s Art, Yale University Press, 1985

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 1985
Idea 009, 1954

From the graphic design archive:

Idea 009, 1954

  • Format: Magazine
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 1954
Idea – Special Issue, 30 Influential Designers of the Century, 1984

From the graphic design archive:

Idea – Special Issue, 30 Influential Designers of the Century, 1984

  • Format: Magazine
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand (Cover)
  • Year: 1984
Seven Designers Look At Trademark Design, Paul Theobald, 1952

From the graphic design archive:

Seven Designers Look At Trademark Design, Paul Theobald, 1952

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Herbert Bayer, Will Burtin, H. Creston Doner, Alvin Lustig, Paul Rand, Bernard Rudofsky
  • Year: 1952
The Gothic Cathedral, Otto von Simson, 1964

From the graphic design archive:

The Gothic Cathedral, Otto von Simson, 1964

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Paul Rand
  • Year: 1964

More from Design Reviewed

Walter Frank Bomar, scanned from The Inland Printer, Vol 104, No. 03, 1939

Members Only Content, Designer Profiles

Walter Frank Bomar, scanned from The Inland Printer, Vol 104, No. 03, 1939

A 1939 article on American designer, Walter Frank Bomar, published in The Inland Printer, Vol 104, No. 03, 1939.

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Stamps, Dick Bruna and the Making of Miffy

Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Ephemera, Illustration, Members Only Content

Stamps, Dick Bruna and the Making of Miffy

Beyond his books, Dick Bruna's vivid colour and simplified forms found their way onto posters, packaging, murals and stamps, many of which feature in my growing collection.

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Valentin Zietara, by H K Frenzel translated by E. T. Scheffauer

Members Only Content, Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles

Valentin Zietara, by H K Frenzel translated by E. T. Scheffauer

An article on Valentin Zietara , originally in German, published in Gebrauchsgraphik, 10, 1930, written by H K Frenzel translated by E. T. Scheffauer

Read Article