Designing, Writing, Teaching: Not My Real Job

In this funny and entertaining video, Designing, Writing, Teaching: Not My Real Job, Michael Bierut outlines all of the little decisions that led him to the work that he is doing today. Through the years he has worked as a designer, writer, editor, blogger and teacher. He describes the pleasures and perils of working for 30 years with an intentionally confusing job description. This video is from a lecture given to D-Crit Program students at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, March 2011.

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“Why Designers Can’t Think”
Statements The American Center for Design.
1988

I remember the buzz back in the day. There was a new sheriff in town and it was Michael Bierut. How did he get all of the work done?
(Just Stay Up Late )

                                            Looking Closer: Critical Writing on Graphic Design
            Michael Bierut, William Drenttel, Steven Heller, and DK Holland

            University of Minnesota, 2008
You can find “Why Designers Can’t Think” by Michael Bierut published in Looking Closer. It is a collection of the best contemporary writing about graphic design, including theoretical, practical, business-oriented, philosophical, and humorous essays. Selected by a prestigious editorial committee composed of Michael Bierut, William Drenttel, Steven Heller, and DK Holland, the essays reflect on inspiration, ethics, "isms," the impact of new technology, and the role of design in the larger culture.
                         Buy This Book >>

Carl W. Smith
05.28.11 at 01:44

i love sitting here in my remote scandinavian backwater and hear your story that is parallel with my own, yet totally different.

charming and funny. thanks, michael

laurie rosenwald
05.28.11 at 05:26

Great talk, Michael - always fascinating to see the path of a designer :)

Matthew Manos
05.31.11 at 12:57

I, as you, grew up in the outskirts of Cleveland (Broadview Heights); moved to Parma; attended Hillside Jr. High and Normandy High School in the late 60s early 70's taking the path of graphic design or "Vocational Commercial Art" (curriculum's title). The program was in such infancy that to fill the class we had draw-in kids from Parma and Shiloh High Schools – oh! the rivalry. Listening to your presentation brought back smiles. Your career path lead you to the East Coast, mine to the West Coast - funny how we didn't stay put. I'm totally satisfied with my career choice and the opportunities it presented along the way. Congratulations on your success!

Isha
06.06.11 at 01:57

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Bierut studied graphic design at the University of Cincinnati, and has been a partner in the New York office of Pentagram since 1990. Michael is a Senior Critic in Graphic Design at the Yale School of Art.
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