Designer as Author: James Victore
Last week AIGA Chicago sponsored a discussion with legendary Designer James Victore on his first book Victore, or Who Died and Made You Boss? Though familiar with Victore’s raw, political, sometimes controversial body of work, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the man as speaker. But his humorous, somewhat profane, and surprisingly motivational speaking style drew me in from the get-go, as he shared stories that ranged from how and when to fire a client, to convincing the MoMA to write a letter to his mother.
Victore went in depth about both the form and design of his book (created by Paul Sahre), as well as its contents: a retrospective of his work created over the past 25 years. What consistently impressed me throughout was his love for graphic design as a tool for communication, and his steadfast fearlessness to express himself and what he believes in. Below is a taste of works that can be found in his book:
At first glance, Victore’s work appears amateur, at best. Who in their right mind would pay him to scribble crap on a plate?! However upon closer examination I realized how powerful, shocking and deeply personal his work can be. Every single one of Victore’s pieces incorporates his handwriting, a testament to the passion behind his design. At the same time, every so often a stunning example of information design pops up in his portfolio. Its this dichotomy, between crazy passionate self-expression and a master of the tools of our trade, that has kept us intrigued for the past 25 years.
As I patiently waited in line for James to sign my copy of Victore, or Who Died and Made You Boss?, I had to wonder – how would a man who lovingly refers to his own book as “Darth Vader in lingerie” sign my copy? The answer: “To Kathryn. With love, Victore…..Poop!”
Thanks for one final nugget of inspiration, James.
With love,
Kathryn
About Victore:
Victore is currently a professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York. His work has won numerous awards, including an Emmy, Gold and Silver Medals from the New York Art Directors Club, and the Grand Prix from the Czech Republic Design Biennial. In addition, Victore is a former board member of the international design alliance, AGI and a former board member of the New York AIGA.
To view more of Victore’s work, please visit his personal website:
