Saul Bass: A Pioneer in Design

Early Life

• Born: May 8, 1920, in The Bronx, New York.
• Died: April 25, 1996, in Los Angeles, California.
• Education: Attended James Monroe High School; studied at the Art Students League and Brooklyn College.
• Family: Married Ruth Cooper in 1938, with whom he had two children. Later married Elaine Makatura Bass, with two more children.

Career Overview

• Prominent American graphic designer and Oscar-winning filmmaker.
• Renowned for designing motion-picture title sequences, film posters, and corporate logos.
• Worked with Hollywood directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder, Stanley Kubrick, and Martin Scorsese.

Contributions to Film

Title Sequences

• Revolutionized title sequences by integrating them into the film narrative.
• Known for kinetic typography and stylistic coherence with films.
• Notable films include The Man with the Golden Arm, North by Northwest, Vertigo, and Psycho.
• Aimed to create a "simple, visual phrase" embodying the essence of the story.

Film Poster Design

• Developed iconic movie posters with symbolic designs that communicated key film elements.
• Famous posters include The Man with the Golden Arm, Vertigo, and Anatomy of a Murder.

Corporate Logo Design

• Designed timeless logos for major corporations such as:
  • AT&T (1984)
  • Continental Airlines (1968)
  • United Airlines (1974)
  • Warner Communications (1972)

Filmmaking

• Directed the short film Why Man Creates, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary, Short Subjects, in 1968.
• Directed the feature-length science fiction film Phase IV (1974).

Legacy and Influence

• Saul Bass's work in title sequences and logo design has left a lasting impact on graphic design and filmmaking.
• His innovative approaches have inspired subsequent generations of designers and filmmakers.
• Modern films and series, such as Catch Me If You Can and Mad Men, have emulated his graphic style.
• Received an honorary Doctorate from Otis College of Art and Design in 1986.

Interesting Facts

• Bass's work in Psycho involved creating storyboards for the famous shower scene.
• His designs often outshone the films they introduced, earning high praise from critics.
• On his 93rd birthday, Google commemorated Bass with a Google Doodle.