As part of a scholarship for college I had write an essay on an artist that I would like to spend an afternoon with.

One of the most well known and respected graphic designers in history was Paul Rand. He was not only a graphic designer but was an educator as well who taught at Yale University. He is responsible for creating many wide spread corporate logos, including UPS, ABC, IBM, Next, Westinghouse and more.

I chose Paul Rand because of the several stories I have heard about him and for the inspiration and education he has provided to many great designers who came after him. He is one of the people I regret not having the opportunity to meet.

If I was to spend an afternoon with Paul Rand we would visit his house. We would sit there, drinking tea that he made for us. His house would be simple but the furniture would be arranged perfectly. The home would be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Naturally we would have discussed graphic design and he might have gone on about form and typography. I would inquire about how he started his career and would be looking for stories about the amazing past that he had. He would stray away from the topic of graphic design quickly and there would be nothing I could do. He would talk about culture, ideas, and books. I would add my thoughts and we would debate about a couple things here and there. He would suggest books for me to read and new ideas to wrap my mind around.

From Paul Rand I would learn simple lessons that are important in life. I would not be educated in specific graphic design techniques or concepts, but rather I would learn about the larger picture of life. He would tell me how design impacts others, what not to miss as I went through life, and how to see the world.