Paul Rand (1914-) is one of the most influential figures in American graphic design. He explored the formal vocabulary of the European avant-garde art movements and developed an unique and distinctly American graphic style which was characterized by simplicity, wit and a rational approach to problem solving.
Educated in New York at Pratt Institute from 1929-1932, Parson's School of Design from 1932-1933 and the Art Student's League from 1933-1934, Rand was a major force in editorial design. He was art director of Esquire and Apparel Arts (later GQ: Gentleman's Quarterly) from 1935-1941 and designed covers for the Directions cultural journal between 1938 and 1945.