“David Carson is a man who has transformed the field of graphic design throughout his career. Self-taught, resolutely grid-free, and unafraid to speak his mind (he’s also very funny), Carson’s work made designers realize that editorial layouts didn’t have to stick to the rules around image placement, consistent typography, or doggedly flowing copy issue after issue.
His attitude—one he sees as partly underdog, partly “why not?”—carries through not only his most famous projects like art directing Ray Gun magazine or his work for Transworld Skateboarding, but also branding projects, surfboard designs, packaging design for potato chips, and more; making him as relevant today as ever.
It’s rare to speak to a young designer who’s into zines, music, and a generally less strict aesthetic, and have them not cite Carson as an influence. The American Center for Graphic Design has exalted him as having made “the most important work coming out of America,” while Creative Review has called him “the art director of the era.” In 2014, he was awarded the AIGA Gold Medal. But for all the praise he’s received, he’s rather lovely when we chat—and pretty humble to boot. He’s also still really into surfing.” AIGA eye on design: august 2019
Website: https://www.davidcarsondesign.com
Final Jury Panel
Anna Kłos was born in Warsaw. Graphic artist, academic lecturer, curator of exhibitions. In 2007 she got her Ph.D. degree at Art Faculty of Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. Since…
Antonio Castro H. teaches graphic design at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he is an associate professor in the Department of Art. He received a BFA in…
Byoungil-Sun was Born in 1958, in Korea. He is a graphic designer based in Seoul. Since 1995, he has been a professor in Visual Information Design at Namseoul University. He…
Christopher Scott is an internationally recognised award-winning designer. Born in Northern Ireland, he received both a bachelor’s and a Masters degree in Design from the University of Ulster, Magee. The…
“David Carson is a man who has transformed the field of graphic design throughout his career. Self-taught, resolutely grid-free, and unafraid to speak his mind (he’s also very funny), Carson’s…
Prof. Dr. Arafat Al-Naim (1966) BFA, MFA, PhD in graphic arts and MST in art teaching. Academic. Leader, graphic artist, designer, and the moving spirit behind international art and design…
Elizabeth Resnick is a Professor Emerita and former chair of Graphic Design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Massachusetts. She earned her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Graphic…
Illustrator and graphic designer of Cuban origin, since 1997 he has lived and worked in Bolivia. In the field of graphics, he has participated in different competitions and biennials, such…
Kiko Farkas is a designer and illustrator. Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of São Paulo, Kiko works mainly in the editorial, cultural and institutional areas. He…
Mehdi Saeedi is an internationally known artist and designer based in Philadelphia who was born and raised in Tehran. The design vision of Saeedi is influenced by his focus on…
Mirko Ilic was born in Bosnia. In Europe, he drew comics, illustrations, and art-directed posters, books, and record covers. In 1991 he became he became the art director of Time…
Born in Denmark in 1975. Graphic Designer and Educator. Works and teaches in a field in the intersection between language, culture and space. She has a passion for graphic design…