Tom eckersley posters and other graphic work yale centre for british art december 10 1980 january 11 1981 with thanks to the estate of tom. He also did some work as a book illustrator, for example illustrating his wifes book cat onine lives in 1946. Tom eckersley was an english poster artist known for his use of bold, bright colors and simple block shapes. Tom eckersley 19141995 was one of the foremost graphic designers of the twentieth century working in the uk. In a long and distinguished career spanning over 60 years, producing an enormous output of graphic work, tom eckersley was always the exemplary professional designer who maintained his authority. American graphic design book design, paul rand logos. Greta garbo, buster keaton, groucho marx, marlene dietrich.
It was designed and printed in 1990 for the world wildlife fund to advertise a musical in london called ocean world. Here he established the first undergraduate courses in graphic design in britain. Here he was awarded the heywood medal for his dedicated approach to his work. The graphic approach explores and celebrates the reductive aesthetic of his work. See more ideas about graphic design illustration, vintage posters and graphic design. Tom eckersley the father of all poster illustrators fishink. Richard eckersley, who has died aged 65, was an awardwinning book designer whose work on scholarly books set an industry standard. He also did some work as a book illustrator for example. Greetings 1983 poster british graphic designer tom eckersleys legacy is being celebrated in an exhibition titled tom eckersley. Eckersley also continued to complete commissioned work, adding the united nations childrens fund, the world wide fund for nature, the national business calendar design awards and cooks to his list of clients.
Tom eckersley was the most original poster artist this country has produced and i havent forgotten the beggarstaff brothers. There are also magazine covers for the queen, graphics 31 and the director. Tom eckersley i found an artist called tom eckersley. Daniel benneworthgray on graphic design illustration. Happy 100th birthday to modernist master, tom eckersley. Concept an exhibition featuring 40 posters by tom eckersley. In addition to poster making and book illustration he also produced magazine. His artistic training began in 1930 when he enrolled at salford art school, where his abilities were soon recognised and he was awarded the heywood medal for best student. What i actually saw when i got to the page was this. Eckersley illustrated only one childrens book, cat o nine lives, which was written by his wife, daisy eckersley. An exhibition of tom eckersleys poster work is to be staged the london college of communication in january, marking the centenary of the british designers birth tom eckersley modern graphic design graphic design illustration book illustration graphic art illustration styles art exhibition posters bird poster wwf poster play poster.
Tom eckersley graphic work 193483 eckersley, tom obe. The show raised awareness about mans misuse of the sea through coral mining, oil spillages, whaling and industrial and nuclear waste. Richard eckersley, an awardwinning graphic designer who introduced unconventional typography to staidlooking universitypress books, died on sunday at his. This is the work of celebrated english poster artist tom eckersley 1914 1997. Tom eckersley the father of all poster illustrators. Midcentury modern graphic design by theo inglis waterstones. He was very much inspired and influenced by the work of edward mcknight kauffer and am cassandre, and likewise his own work. The recent exhibition of tom eckersleys posters was the most comprehensive retrospective of his contribution to date.
Tom eckersley was born on 30 september 1914 in lancashire. To mark the centenary of his birth, here are some of his best designs. Beautiful graphic poster design by english poster designer and artist tom eckersley greetings 1983 poster british graphic designer tom eckersleys legacy is being celebrated in an exhibition titled tom eckersley. Pages are packed with countless examples of his work, including everything from snowboard graphics to logo designs. The edition has been printed on huntsman silk 5gm2.
His birth preceded that of the concept of graphic design as it is understood today, which, as tom observes, had its roots in the twenties and thirties. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery. During wwii he was a cartographer for the royal air force and created designs for the general post office. He showed an interest in art as a child, and spent much of his time drawing, and later studied art at salford school of art from 19301934. British designer tom eckersley was one of the most important and prolific poster designers in the uk in the last century. Together with a book published and printed by his colleagues at the london college of printing lcp, it constituted a warm and sincere appreciation of his work by his friends. Tom eckersly was the first modern graphic designer. The image is characteristically playful and humorous what at first appears to be an exotic bird is actually a womans elaborate hat.
Tom eckersley tom eckersley was born in lawton, lancashire in 1914. Sep 29, 2017 the graphic design work of tom eckersley 19141997. This poster, created for pakistan international airlines, depicts a dapper looking gentleman in swiss garb. English artist and designer, tom eckersley 19141997, created numerous posters from the 1940s to the 1980s. Eckersleys book designs, the design historian roy r. Tom eckersley 19141997 was an english poster artist known for his use of bold, bright colors and simple block shapes.
Pretty much everything is a treasure trove of work and wisdom that any design studio could benefit from owning. To mark the centenary of his birth, here are some of his best designs often graphic design is about reduction getting to the essence. Typography and print items are created with multiple use in mind postcard press sheet is overprinted to. Apr 15, 2020 tom eckersley is known for creating the first undergraduate design course in 1954 and moving design away from commercial art toward more conceptual references. Tom eckersley was born in lowton, lancashire in 1914. Mullens archive of fortune is a big part of the visual telling of stories. A pioneer in poster design for more than six decades, eckersleys distinct style pairs minimal, flat forms with bold colors and contours. Eckersley was greatly inspired by the work of commercial artists such as a. Today marks the 100th birthday of modernist master, tom eckersley. His works employ minimal text, instead transmitting their message by pareddown graphic elements and bold blocks of colour. In his book, poster design, eckersley wrote the good poster, that is one which. As well as posters eckersley produced for one off shows of his own work and for. Animals 04 on behance animal doodles, colorful art.
Return your library book, tom eckersley poster using negative space library posters. Greetings 1983 link poster from tom eckersley, a giant in the british graphic design history. During wwii he was a cartographer for the royal air force and created design. Not unlike his posters, the illustrations for this book often feature one bold graphic as a pages focal point, and employ substantial blurring effects that he used throughout his graphic design career. Five hundred copies of this book have been designed and printed by the london college of printing at the elephant and castle. Together with a book published and printed by his colleagues at the london college of printing lcp, it constituted a warm and sincere appreciation of his work by his. Set of tom eckersley obe, film star prints uk 1983 tom eckersley, obe born 1914 died 1996 eckersley was one of the foremost poster designers and graphic communicators of the last century. Eckersleys posters, like greetings shown below, demonstrate a shift in design from commercial art to design with meaning. Clean layouts, clever lines and bold colors, tom eckersley is the confirmed godfather of modern graphic design. What i was thinking of was this, which is by tom eckersley and i have been meaning to put up for your delectation for ages now.
Tom eckersley obe rdi agi was born in lowton, lancashire on 30 september 1914. A celebration of tom eckersleys life and career with an exhibition in january 2014 at london college of communication. Tom eckersleys greatest posters in pictures art and. His father, tom eckersley, a celebrated poster designer during world war ii. Tom eckersley, unicef united nations childrens fund. In 1934 eckersley moved to london with the express purpose of becoming a freelance poster designer. Online exhibit from eckersleys archival collection. His archive is under the care of his alma mater, the. In the meantime, toms poster design features in pauls book to commemorate. Tom eckersleys greatest posters in pictures art and design the. Turning a public information poster into a work of art is no mean feat, but with his bold colours, clean lines and clever layouts, tom eckersley confirmed himself as a godfather of modern graphic.
In 1954 eckersley joined the london college of printing lcp, now named london college of communication in order to teach undergraduates. However, in this illustration they have created the design with simple shapes making your eye draw to the focus point. Here he established the first undergraduate courses in graphic design. Tom eckersley graphic design books, modern graphic. Tom eckersley retained copies of many of his posters and examples of his original artwork. In 1954 eckersley joined the london college of printing now named london college of communication in order to teach undergraduates. His talent for whittling down subject matter with deceiving ease continues to inspire designers around the world.
As with any good graphic design book, theres plenty to enjoy here visually. Eckersley was one of the most iconic poster designers and graphic communicators of the twentieth century, who combined practice with. Visual database of eckerlsey work commissioned by transport for london. See more ideas about graphic design, graphic design inspiration and typography design.
Niet afleiden health, safety poster, safety posters. In depth monograph on tom eckersley rescheduled for september 2021 postponed for obvious reasons we were privileged to have been introduced to tom by abram games, and here is a short interview that paul conducted at abrams home in north london, in the 1990s, published by affiche in 19945. The retro feel and sharp colors in eckersleys work give insight into the happenings and. Eckersleys work communicates strong messages by employing bold overlaid colors, simplified forms, and informative text. Tom eckersley passed away in 1997 leaving behind a tremendously influential body of work leading many industry insiders to call him the originator of modern graphic design. He spent much of his childhood drawing, and at 16 he enrolled at salford school of art.
The recent exhibition of tom eckersley s posters was the most comprehensive retrospective of his contribution to date. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Eckersley used these when teaching, as well as a personal reference. Whilst his designs are not specifically american, their. It was designed and printed in 1983 to advertise an exhibition of his graphic work in newcastle. To celebrate a century since his birth, the exhibition displays iconic poster designs from the 1940s to the 1980s. In 1947, art and industry magazine described his approach to design as scrapping the nonessential, by the perfect mating of chosen word with chosen picture, he. The posters were kept at his home and as such formed a working archive. Turning a public information poster into a work of art is no mean feat, but with his bold colours, clean lines and clever layouts, tom eckersley confirmed himself as a. The famous work of tom eckersley, one of the most influential graphic designers of the last century, is being celebrated with a new public exhibition at the london college of communication. Tom eckersley 30 september 1914, lancashire 4 august 1997 was an english poster artist and teacher of design other websites. Poster type poster modern and retro graphic design business cards sometime graphic designers make the pages too complicated drawing your eye everywhere.
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