Recap of RGD Book Club's meetings in 2024

Four Authors, two books and inspiring conversations. Bianca Jozwiak RGD give us a sneak into the RGD Book Club's meetings this year.

Milton Glaser: POP

By Steven Heller, Mirko Ilić, and Beth Kleber

Host: Esther Sunghee Byun
Moderator: Bianca Jozwiak RGD

The RGD Book Club kicked off 2024 with Milton Glaser: POP, a book showcasing Milton Glaser's unseen designs from the 60s and 70s. Authors and panellists Steven Heller, Mirko Ilić, and Beth Kleber discussed his influential work on illustration and graphic design, which defined the global visual landscape.

The panellists emphasized the importance of preserving iconic works, particularly Milton's, acknowledging him as one of the most celebrated graphic designers of his era. His work adorned countless book covers, album art, posters, magazine covers and advertisements—both famous and lesser-known. They agreed that Glaser largely defined the international visual style for illustration, advertising and typeface design with interest in his legacy continuing, among modern creatives who are inspired by his vibrant approach.

In the RGD Book Club Breakout Rooms, conversations centred around cost-effective archiving, the necessity of preserving iconic pieces and Milton's habit of doodling during meetings—Mirko even shared some of these never-seen sketches. Participants departed with a newfound appreciation for Milton's vibrant and intentional work, inspiring them to explore various facets of illustration.

About the Authors

Steven Heller

Steven Heller is cofounder of the MFA Design / Designer as Entrepreneur at the School of Visual Arts, and author or coauthor of more than two hundred books on design and popular culture, most recently his memoir Growing Up Underground: A Memoir of Counterculture New York (2022). He has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic online, and Wired, among many other publications.

Beth Kleber

Beth Kleber is the founding archivist of the Milton Glaser Design Study Center and Archives at School of Visual Arts Archives in New York City, where she also lectures on design history and research, and assists visiting researchers. She is curator and co-curator of several design exhibitions, and her essays have appeared in design anthologies, PRINT magazine, and the Container List blog.

Mirko Ilić

Mirko Ilić is a designer, illustrator, and activist based in New York. He organizes and curates shows and lectures around the world, including most recently the Tolerance Poster Show, which has traveled to more than 150 locations in more than forty countries worldwide. He is the coauthor of more than ten books, including The Design of Dissent, co-authored with Milton Glaser.

Creative endurance: 56 rules for overcoming obstacles and achieving your goals 

By Mike Schnaidt

Host: Esther Sunghee Byun

The RGD Book Club’s second session with Mike Schnaidt, author of Creative Endurance: 56 Rules for Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Your Goals, was a blast, with plenty of discussion on practical advice and inspiration for staying motivated and achieving your big-picture goals. Creative Endurance, filled to the brim with infographics and beautifully designed layouts, making it a joy to look through even without reading any of the information on the pages (though that too is very useful!) Mike shared how he went about exploring topics on how to start and see through creative projects and how he chose the interviewees to make sure he received plenty of tips from those who’ve been successful creatively—everyone has their own story and journey to tell.

Mike also shared his favourite interviews from the book, what inspired him while writing it and the things he learned along the way. Questions from our attendees arose on how to create better habits, which included Mike sharing how he mentally had to prepare for running the NYC Marathon as he wanted to write about it within his own section in his book. Overall, the session was relevant, inspiring and motivational, especially with the book being written for a broad range of creative people. The inspirational interviews, quotes and plenty of pages to spend time working out what you want to do and how to get there means this is a great resource for those in a design funk or career crossroads.

About the Author

Mike Schnaidt

Mike Schnaidt is a designer, educator, and writer based in Jersey City, New Jersey. His first book, Creative Endurance, offers practical tips to help creatives overcome their biggest challenges. As Fast Company’s creative director, he leads a team of art directors and photo editors who create visual content for the brand. Schnaidt has designed a variety of publications covering pop culture, fashion, food, and science, and has won awards from the Society of Publication Designers, Advertising Age, and Art Directors Club. He holds a Master of Science in Communication Design from Pratt Institute and teaches graphic design at Kean University.

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The Virtual RGD Book Club is free for all RGD Members. Non-Members may purchase tickets for $15+ tax.

If you are interested in participating in the RGD Book Club, fill out the Expression of Interest form. Email our Membership Manager Zaria Pucknell at zaria@rgd.ca if you are looking to become a part of the RGD Book Club.