Legendary Saul Bass

Have you heard the story about a man who was the "master of film title design? Saul Bass was born in 1920 in New York City. Intrigued by art, Bass studied at the Art Students League in New York and Brooklyn College. 

After working several internships, Bass move to L.A. and started his own firm in 1950. Bass entered the film industry in 1954 but it wasn't until 1955's big hit, Man with the Golden Arms, that made him distinguished in the film industry. Instead of using the typical, lead actor's face, Bass decided to be BOLD and DIFFERENT and use a distorted arm as the logo. Even though Saul and the director, Preminger, did not always see eye to eye, the logo plus its opening act became the start of a new style of opening credits. 

Bass has also participated in the help of several films with directors such as: Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, John Frankenheimer and Martin Scorsese. "Martin Scorsese once described his approach as creating: 'an emblematic image, instantly recognizable and immediately tied to the film.'" With the help of his wife Elaine Bass and his firm, they produced dozens of film titles. Print work such as logos and ads include, United Airlines, Girl Scouts of America, AT&T, 1983 U.S postage stamp commemorating art and industry, 184 poster for the L.A. Olympic Games, and more.

Awards include (Just to name a few):

Honorary Royal Designer for Industry from the Royal Society of Arts of London in 1964

Honorary Fellowship from Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem in 1984

Philadelphia Museum of Art Award in 1960

Art Director of the Year from National Society of Art Directors in 1957

As this blog comes to its' conclusion, think about how bass revolutionized graphic design and the film industry. His ability to work with human emotions, expressions, and to convey a big message in a small space, as truly earned him the title greatness of graphic design and film title design.

http://designmuseum.org/design/saul-bass?print=1

"Bass, Saul (1920-1996)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale, 1998. NA. General OneFile. Gale. Westmoreland High School. 9 Feb. 2011
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