Quick Facts
Biography
Seymour Chwast (born August 18, 1931) is an American graphic designer, illustrator, and type designer.
Chwast was born in Bronx, New York, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cooper Union in 1951. With Milton Glaser, Edward Sorel, and Reynold Ruffins, he founded Push Pin Studios in 1954. The bi-monthly publication The Push Pin Graphic was a product of their collaboration.
Chwast is famous for his commercial artwork, which includes posters, food packaging, magazine covers, and publicity art. Often referred to as "the left-handed designer," Chwast's unique graphic design melded social commentary and a distinctive style of illustration. Today, he continues to work and is principal at The Pushpin Group, Inc. in New York City.
In 1979, he was hired by McDonald's to design on the first box for their Happy Meals.
He is the font designer of Chwast Buffalo, Fofucha, Loose Caboose NF, and Weedy Beasties NF.
He is a member of Alliance Graphique International (AGI).
Chwast married designer Paula Scher in 1973 and divorced five years later. They remarried in 1989.
Awards
- 1972 - Augustus Saint Gaudens Award, The Cooper Union School of Art
- 1983 - Art Directors Hall of Fame
- 1985 - Gold Medalist, American Institute of Graphic Arts
- 1992 - Honorary Doctorate, Parson's School of Design
- 1997 - Masters Series, School of Visual Arts
- Cooper Union Alumni Association, Augustus Saint Gaudens Award Recipients, accessed June 6, 2008
- Art Directors Club / Hall of Fame Archive / 1983 / Seymour Chwast, accessed June 19, 2008
- AIGA Medalists, accessed June 6, 2008
Books
- The Pancake King (By Phyllis La Farge, Illustrated by Seymour Chwast), Princeton Architectural Press, 2016 (ISBN 978-1616894320)