The I Love New York logo, conceived in the back of a taxi cab in 1977, remains the most globally recognized contribution of Milton Glaser to visual culture. A native of the Bronx, Glaser reshaped graphic design through a career that spanned seven decades, balancing commercial success with a deeply personal approach to illustration and editorial layout.
Early Training and Push Pin Studios
Born in 1929, Glaser studied at the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan before attending Cooper Union. In 1954, he co-founded Push Pin Studios alongside Reynold Ruffins, Seymour Chwast, and Edward Sorel. For two decades, the studio rejected traditional constraints, favoring revitalized historical styles that influenced the trajectory of global graphic design.
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Glaser co-founded New York magazine with Clay Felker in 1968. Beyond his design work, he co-authored The Underground Gourmet column with Jerome Snyder for seven years. In 1983, he partnered with Walter Bernard to establish WBMG, a firm that designed over 50 newspapers and periodicals across the world.
Signature Visual Works
His 1966 poster for Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits established a distinct visual language, utilizing psychedelic colors and a profile silhouette inspired by Marcel Duchamp. His portfolio included commercial projects ranging from the Olivetti Valentine typewriter posters to branding for DC Comics and Brooklyn Brewery, as well as architectural design for Trattoria Dell'Arte.
Legacy and Institutional Recognition
Glaser received numerous honors, including the Fulbright Scholarship and the AIGA Medal. In 2009, he became the first graphic designer to receive the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Israel Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Fast facts
- Born: 1929, The Bronx, New York City
- Died: 2020, Manhattan
- Education: Cooper Union; High School of Music & Art
- Notable Partner: Clay Felker (New York magazine)
- Key Award: National Medal of Arts (2009)
- Final Resting Place: Woodstock Artists Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What inspired the I Love New York logo?
Glaser was inspired by Robert Indiana's LOVE design, which also utilized stacked letters.
Did Milton Glaser own the rights to the I Love New York logo?
He provided the design to New York state for free, intending for it to become public property.
Achievements
- AIGA Medal
- National Medal of Arts
- Notable work: Dylan, poster for Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album, CBS records
- Notable work: I Love New York
- Notable work: Untitled
