In the age of social media, the word “famous” means having to be already famous. However, some prominent graphic designers and artists have created their fame through a modest start. From record album covers to athlete uniforms, graphic design and artistry are instrumental in not only how we see our world but how the world sees us.
Neil Secretario, based in Spring Lake, New Jersey, has been writing articles for a number of websites, and his work has been featured in numerous newspapers, magazines, and websites. Secretario holds a Bachelor’s Degree in communications from Norfolk State University. He is also the author of two books.
Mike Perry is a fourth-line right winger for the Anaheim Ducks. The 25-year-old has spent the last six seasons with the Ducks after being drafted by the team in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Perry scored a career-high 20 goals back in 2013-14, and he helped Anaheim win the Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2009. In 2015, Perry signed an eight-year, $62 million deal with the Ducks.
Lauren Hom is a popular American YouTuber and model with a unique mix of quirky, energetic personalities with a strong juvenile side. Lauren’s quirky personality is prominently displayed in the videos she produces on her YouTube channel, where she often wears a microphone and sings silly songs as well as educational songs, such as “The House That Jack Built.”
Pavlov Visuals are images that help users remember and repeat a behavior, such as running a glass of water every time you hear a doorbell ring or typing in a date every time you hear someone say “The End.” The most commonly used Pavlov Visuals are images of an animal, such as a dog, staring back at you. Each animal represents a different thought or feeling, and when you pair the animal image with the corresponding feeling or thought, you train your brain to associate the image with the feeling or thought.
Sam Larson, a 33-year-old teacher from Denver, made international headlines in 2014 when he set his Twitter profile picture to the photo of himself his mother had uploaded years earlier. Larson, who was born with Down syndrome, became obsessed with his mother’s grainy photo, which she had uploaded on Facebook in 2000, and it eventually became his profile picture.
Velvet spectrum is an up-and-coming artist who just released her new single “Runaway” with Grammy Nominated Akon. Her song combines R&B and hip-hop with a pop style to create a song that you will want to put on repeat. She has a sexy voice that is full of emotion. Her lyrics make you want to dance around your room as she sings.
Dschwen is a musical group based in New York City. The group formed in May 2011, when singer Lee Slynn and a team of New York City producers began work on their first EP, 14 Songs, under the working title “Dschwen.” It was recorded and mixed by producer Steve Lewin (known for his work with The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Rapture, and Florence and the Machine) at 59th Street Studios, in a studio apartment in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Though his last name might sound like one you’d hear in a Medieval drama, Stefan Sagmeister is a German graphic designer living in New York. His work is playful, colorful, and humorous, and he’s renowned for his quirky graphic posters. Sagmeister’s work has earned him numerous awards, including multiple Type Directors Club awards, the Clio, and the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale.
Jessica Walsh is a bright, young teen who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when she was just four years old. Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disease, and like many diseases, it can be debilitating. It can cause weight loss, fatigue, and abdominal pain and can affect your entire body. There is no cure, but Jessica’s mother, Jennifer, refuses to give up hope. Today, Jessica is a spunky 17-year-old who is getting ready to attend college.
Lotta Nieminen was one of the greatest hockey players ever, and he’s now immortalized in his very own NHL hockey arena. The arena in Chicago bears his name (the very first hockey arena to bear a name other than “Joe Louis Arena”). The arena is a sight to behold, and people who come to see it for the first time say it’s one of the best buildings they’ve ever seen.
Graphic designers often go unnoticed and underappreciated, but they deserve as much recognition as anyone for their talent and dedication. Even the best authors need editors, and these designers are the ones who make sure our books, magazines, and websites look their best. Take a tip from your favorite book, and start following the great graphic designers who make it beautiful.