Archive13

Graphic designer/video artist Pouya Ahmadi's poster for the Experimental Film Society, in-house design. All photographs: Chicago Design Archive.

The Society of Typographic Arts (STA) recently announced winners of its Archive13 competition, which recognizes achievements in Chicago graphic design. An exhibition of the entries is on display through October at the Harrington College of Design Gallery. "Once again this year, the overall quality of the entries was exceptional," said Bob Zeni, chair of Archive13. "The selections represent the very best of Chicago design." The competition is co-sponsored by the STA and the American Institute of Graphic Arts Chicago (AIGA). Design students to established firms submitted entries. This year's judging panel included Jamie Koval of VSA Partners, Marian Bantjes, Jon Forss of Non-Format, Michael Freimuth of Franklyn, and Kim Knoll of Knoed. All selected works will become part of the Chicago Design Archive, a permanent collection of innovative design pieces from the last 80 years.  

Every quarter, members of Leo Burnett's Global Product Committee--known around the agency as GPC--gather for a review of creative work from offices around the world. In August, 2012, the committee met in Chicago. Burnett's Chicago office created this book to welcome GPC delegates to the city. Alisa Wolfson directed the design for Burnett. 

Another design directed by Wolfson for Burnett, Apples +. The cookbook is decorated throughout with the Red Delicious apples that have come to symbolize the agency. On the day Burnett opened, August 5, 1935, a bowl of apples was put out for clients and to "brighten up the place."

Jeremiah Chiu (creative director/art director/designer), Renata Graw (art director) and Alexa Viscius (designer) from the Plural studio created the Archive 12 identity program for the STA. It showcases typography and design through a system of overlapping type, highlighting the numbers 1 and 2. Several typefaces are utilized, each having a significant relationship to Chicago design over the last century. The campaign included art direction, design, layout, and identity for all marketing/advertising collateral--posters, catalog and website.

On view at the Harrington College of Design Gallery, 200 W. Madison Street, Chicago.