Who You Gonna Call? (540) 369-3200

Designer Spotlight: Paula Scher

This Women’s History Month, we want to highlight a dynamite female graphic designer, Paula Scher. Born in Washington, DC, Scher is a graphic designer, painter, and art educator in design. She is currently principal at Pentagram design firm – and the first woman principal at that!

scher2Designer Spotlight Paula Scher 2

Image via Pentagram

Her early career started with a job as a layout artist for Random House children’s books when she first moved to New York City. In 1972, she was brought on to CBS Records’ advertising and promotions department before she left for competing company, Atlantic Records, in 1974, where she became the art director and began designing her first album covers.

After leaving Atlantic Records to work on her own, Scher took an eclectic approach to typography which became extremely influential in design. She founded her own company, Koppel & Scher, with business partner Terry Koppel, before eventually landing as principal at Pentagram, where she remains today.

In 1994, Scher was the first designer to create a new identity and promotional graphics system for The Public Theater, a program that, according to Pentagram, influenced much of the graphic design created for theatrical promotion and for cultural institutions in general. Furthermore, her graphic identities for Citibank and Tiffany & Co. have become case studies for the contemporary regeneration of American brands.

In her time at Pentagram, Scher began teaching at SVA (School of Visual Arts) in New York, along with positions at the Cooper Union, Yale University and the Tyler School of Art. She has received more than 300 awards from international design associations as well as a series of prizes from the American Institute of Graphic Design (AIGA), The Type Directors Club (NY), New York Art Directors Club and the Package Design Council.

Scher holds a BFA from the Tyler School of Art and honorary doctorates from the Corcoran College of Art and Design, the Maryland Institute College of Art, and Moore College of Art and Design.

Author of two books, educator, and influential designer, there is no doubt that Paula Scher is someone to be celebrated. Check her out on Netflix in “Abstract: The Art of Design,” a documentary series about leading figures in design and architecture.

More Design and Marketing Articles from the Metro Nova Creative Team

graphic design service

Food Trucks

Food Trucks: The Delicious Designs We Love Branding on the Go With summer winding down and cooler weather upon us, we’re starting to reflect back on all of the great food trucks we visited. Whether parked outside of a bar, a music festival, or an office, fresh food that comes to you is an absolute game changer. But it’s certainly

Read More »
FCCA Building - The SilverSmith House

Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts Receives Donation from Fredericksburg Graphic Design Firm

Established in 1963, the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization and the oldest art gallery in the area. Home to both the Frederick Gallery and the Members’ Gallery, FCCA is housed in the historic Silversmith House (circa 1785) located along the Rappahannock River in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, just a few feet away from

Read More »
graphic design service

Gear Up For Outdoor Marketing

Get ready, warmer days are coming. Which probably means plenty of events and outdoor marketing opportunities for your brand! Be prepared with this ultimate display tent package. You can either get just the tent with the top graphic or go full on with a tent top and banner walls! Lots of options to set yourself apart from the competition. For

Read More »