David Carson is an American Graphic Designer born in 1954. The artist is well known for his amazing magazine designs and also for creating a new and interesting way how to use typography in Graphic Design. One of the most famous magazines he worked on is “Ray Gun” which is basically an American alternative Rock n’ Roll Magazine. The magazine first came out in 1992 in California, America. This was one of his first experiments to go out in the market. His design wasn’t like anything there was at the time. This magazine was incredibly abstract and very innovative. Carson played with the type-faces used. Critics say that his work was sometimes not readable, but in fact his work stood out from any other magazines there was at the time.
Another magazine which is known to be under his hands was; “Transworld skateboarding”. This magazine was his first publication as director. He experimented with various typography techniques to give the magazine a more alternative style and reaching more his target audience. He was the Director of this magazine from 1984 till 1988. In 1995 he left Ray Gun and farmed out his own company. After he opened his new company Carson managed to get his hands projects to work for big companies such as; Pepsi Cola, Nike, Microsoft and more. In 1997 he gave a name and designed “Blue” his new adventure lifestyle magazine. Carson designed the first three publications after his assistant; Christa Skinner continued designing the magazine till it was stopped in the year 2000. After “Blue” stopped the artist closed his New York Studio to travel to Charleston due to family issues. Furthermore in 2004 he became the director of Gibbles Museum of Art in Charleston. In the same year he designed the different issue of “surfing magazine” which was called, “Exploration”.
Moreover when the “Graphic Design U.S.A Magazine” listed the most influential graphic designers of the time, David Carson was listed as one of the five best designers to be inspired from. Included in the same list were; Milton Glaser, Paul Rand, Saul Bass and Massimo Vignelli.
In my opinion David Carson was one of those artists who even as time passes artists from all around the globe can get inspired from. He was one of the artists who wasn’t afraid to express his ideas publically and was proud of himself. The most influential part of his artistic life was that he believed in himself as every Graphic Designer should be able to do. He achieved his dreams by creating something different that society provides.
Another magazine which is known to be under his hands was; “Transworld skateboarding”. This magazine was his first publication as director. He experimented with various typography techniques to give the magazine a more alternative style and reaching more his target audience. He was the Director of this magazine from 1984 till 1988. In 1995 he left Ray Gun and farmed out his own company. After he opened his new company Carson managed to get his hands projects to work for big companies such as; Pepsi Cola, Nike, Microsoft and more. In 1997 he gave a name and designed “Blue” his new adventure lifestyle magazine. Carson designed the first three publications after his assistant; Christa Skinner continued designing the magazine till it was stopped in the year 2000. After “Blue” stopped the artist closed his New York Studio to travel to Charleston due to family issues. Furthermore in 2004 he became the director of Gibbles Museum of Art in Charleston. In the same year he designed the different issue of “surfing magazine” which was called, “Exploration”.
Moreover when the “Graphic Design U.S.A Magazine” listed the most influential graphic designers of the time, David Carson was listed as one of the five best designers to be inspired from. Included in the same list were; Milton Glaser, Paul Rand, Saul Bass and Massimo Vignelli.
In my opinion David Carson was one of those artists who even as time passes artists from all around the globe can get inspired from. He was one of the artists who wasn’t afraid to express his ideas publically and was proud of himself. The most influential part of his artistic life was that he believed in himself as every Graphic Designer should be able to do. He achieved his dreams by creating something different that society provides.
Reference:
Wikipedia, 13/01/15, David Carson. [Online] Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carson_(graphic_designer)> accessed on: [23/01/15].
David Carson Design, N/A, David Carson. [Online] Available at: <http://www.davidcarsondesign.com/> accessed on: [23/01/15].
Design in History, N/A, Ray Gun. [Online] Available at: < http://www.designishistory.com/1980/ray-gun/> accessed on: [23/01/15].
Wikipedia, 13/01/15, David Carson. [Online] Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Carson_(graphic_designer)> accessed on: [23/01/15].
David Carson Design, N/A, David Carson. [Online] Available at: <http://www.davidcarsondesign.com/> accessed on: [23/01/15].
Design in History, N/A, Ray Gun. [Online] Available at: < http://www.designishistory.com/1980/ray-gun/> accessed on: [23/01/15].