P. Scott Makela
Encyclopedia
P. Scott Makela was a graphic designer
, multimedia
designer and type designer.
Among other work, he was especially noted for the design of Dead History
, a postmodern typeface (issued by the Emigre
digital type foundry) that combined features of a rounded sans serif typeface and a crisp neo-classical
serif
typeface. With the emergence of the personal computer
in the mid-1980s, Makela was among the first to explore digital programs such as Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
. As a result, he created an idiosyncratic, original and highly controversial design aesthetic. In particular, his disregard for clean, modernist, problem-solving design agendas—synonymous with contemporary corporate graphic design
--caused much debate among powerful, old-guard designers such as Massimo Vignelli
, Paul Rand
, and Henry Wolf
.
Makela developed a notable body of work of graphics, film and "industrial soul" music before his sudden death at the age of 39 in May 1999. Commercial yet highly personal, Makela created visually aggressive work for clients such as Apple Computer
, Rossignol
, Nike
and Sony
. Projects such as Michael Jackson's
"Scream"
and film titles for the seminal Fight Club
defined a post-modern moment in graphic design, along with the work of contemporaries such as April Greiman
and David Carson
.
In 1996, Makela and partner and wife, Laurie Haycock Makela became designers-in-residence and co-directors of the graduate program in Graphic Design at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where they also ran their studio, Words + Pictures for Business + Culture.
Together with writer Lewis Blackwell they authored Whereishere (Ginko Press) an "unprecedented print-website concept that broke from the orthodox approach to understanding two dimensional design." As a passionate snowboarder and mountain biker, Makela epitomized and expressed early 1990s American youth culture.
Makela's obituary was penned by design critic Steven Heller
for the New York Times.
Makela's graphic design was featured in design magazines around the world including Eye magazine
(No. 12, Vol. 3, 1994).
Makela and Haycock-Makela were the co-recipients of an AIGA
Medal in 2000.
Graphic designer
A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures and...
, multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
designer and type designer.
Among other work, he was especially noted for the design of Dead History
Dead History
Dead History is a typeface which explores combining structural elements of both geometric sans-serif and Didone serif typefaces. Designed in 1990 by P. Scott Makela, the face is licensed by Emigre....
, a postmodern typeface (issued by the Emigre
Emigre
Emigre, also known as Emigre Graphics, is a digital type foundry, publisher and distributor of graphic design centered information based in Berkeley, California, that was founded in 1984 by husband-and-wife team Rudy VanderLans and Zuzana Licko. The type foundry also published Emigre magazine...
digital type foundry) that combined features of a rounded sans serif typeface and a crisp neo-classical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
serif
Serif
In typography, serifs are semi-structural details on the ends of some of the strokes that make up letters and symbols. A typeface with serifs is called a serif typeface . A typeface without serifs is called sans serif or sans-serif, from the French sans, meaning “without”...
typeface. With the emergence of the personal computer
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
in the mid-1980s, Makela was among the first to explore digital programs such as Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Adobe Systems. Illustrator is similar in scope, intended market, and functionality to its competitors, CorelDraw, Xara Designer Pro and Macromedia FreeHand....
. As a result, he created an idiosyncratic, original and highly controversial design aesthetic. In particular, his disregard for clean, modernist, problem-solving design agendas—synonymous with contemporary corporate graphic design
Corporate design
A corporate design is the official graphical design of the logo and name of a company or institution used on letterheads, envelopes, forms, folders, brochures, etc...
--caused much debate among powerful, old-guard designers such as Massimo Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli is a designer who has done work in a number of areas ranging from package design to furniture design to public signage to showroom design through Vignelli Associates, which he co-founded with his wife, Lella...
, Paul Rand
Paul Rand
Paul Rand Paul Rand Paul Rand (born Peretz Rosenbaum, (August 15, 1914 — November 26, 1996) was an American graphic designer, best known for his corporate logo designs, including the logos for IBM, UPS, Enron, Westinghouse, ABC, and Steve Jobs’ NeXT...
, and Henry Wolf
Henry Wolf
Henry Wolf was an Austrian-born American graphic designer, photographer and art director best known for his art direction of Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and Show magazines in the 1950s and '60s.- Life and work :...
.
Makela developed a notable body of work of graphics, film and "industrial soul" music before his sudden death at the age of 39 in May 1999. Commercial yet highly personal, Makela created visually aggressive work for clients such as Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
, Rossignol
Rossignol
Rossignol is a French word meaning nightingale. It may also refer to:People* The Rossignols, a family of French cryptographers* André Rossignol* Felix Rossignol* Jean Antoine Rossignol* Jim Rossignol* Jules Rossignol* Michelle Rossignol...
, Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
and Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. Projects such as Michael Jackson's
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
"Scream"
Scream/Childhood
"Scream"/"Childhood" is the lead single from Michael Jackson's ninth studio album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I where "Scream" is the first song and "Childhood" is the tenth song on the second disc of the album HIStory Continues. The A-side, "Scream", is a duet with his younger sister...
and film titles for the seminal Fight Club
Fight Club (film)
Fight Club is a 1999 American film based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. Norton plays the unnamed protagonist, an "everyman" who is discontented with his white-collar job...
defined a post-modern moment in graphic design, along with the work of contemporaries such as April Greiman
April Greiman
April Greiman is a contemporary designer. "Recognized as one of the first designers to embrace computer technology as a design tool, Greiman is also credited, along with early collaborator Jayme Odgers, with establishing the ‘New Wave’ design style in the US during the late 70s and early...
and David Carson
David Carson (graphic designer)
David Carson is an American graphic designer. He is best known for his innovative magazine design, and use of experimental typography. He was the art director for the magazine Ray Gun. Carson was perhaps the most influential graphic designer of the 1990s...
.
In 1996, Makela and partner and wife, Laurie Haycock Makela became designers-in-residence and co-directors of the graduate program in Graphic Design at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where they also ran their studio, Words + Pictures for Business + Culture.
Together with writer Lewis Blackwell they authored Whereishere (Ginko Press) an "unprecedented print-website concept that broke from the orthodox approach to understanding two dimensional design." As a passionate snowboarder and mountain biker, Makela epitomized and expressed early 1990s American youth culture.
Makela's obituary was penned by design critic Steven Heller
Steven Heller (graphic design)
Steven Heller is an American art director, journalist, critic, author, and editor who specializes on topics related to graphic design....
for the New York Times.
Makela's graphic design was featured in design magazines around the world including Eye magazine
Eye (magazine)
Eye Magazine, The International Review of Graphic Design is a quarterly print magazine on graphic design and visual culture.- History :...
(No. 12, Vol. 3, 1994).
Makela and Haycock-Makela were the co-recipients of an AIGA
Aiga
‘Aiga is a word in the Samoan language which means 'family.' The aiga is the family unit of Samoan society and differs from the Western sense in that it consists more than just a mother, father and children. The Samoan family, also referred to as an 'extended family' is based on the culture's...
Medal in 2000.