The Tasteful Thickness of It

Written By Sean Adams

Recently, someone told me, in the context that white people all looked the same, that I looked like Bill Gates. WTF? Bill Gates is fine, but I was going for Cary Grant. Years ago at a dinner party, the woman next to me, another graphic designer, told me I reminded her of the guy in American Psycho. I could go with this. Christian Bale explained how Tom Cruise was his inspiration for Patrick Bateman, "he just had this very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes, and he was really taken with this energy.” That works for me.

The business card scene is, of course, one of those scenes all graphic designers love. I understand that any mention of something graphic design related in a film gets attention. We're so starved for any representation that any small bone is relished. Remember Juno?

The sad fact here is that the American Psycho cards are in need of a real graphic designer. Somebody who actually understands typography and K E R N I N G small caps.

and now, with some kerning and proofing (Acquisitions)


Sean Adams

Sean Adams is the Dean of Visual Art and Communication at ArtCenter, founder of Burning Settlers Cabin studio, and on-screen author for LinkedIn Learning/Lynda.com He is the only two term AIGA national president in AIGA’s 100 year history. In 2014, Adams was awarded the AIGA Medal, the highest honor in the profession. He is an AIGA Fellow, and Aspen Design Fellow. He has been recognized by every major competition and publication including; How, Print, Step, Communication Arts, Graphis, AIGA, The Type Directors Club, The British Art Director’s Club, and the Art Director’s Club. Adams has been exhibited often, including a solo exhibition at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Adams is an author of multiple magazine columns, and several best-selling books. He has been cited as one of the forty most important people shaping design internationally, and one of the top ten influential designers in the United States. Previously, Adams was a founding partner at AdamsMorioka, whose clients included The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Disney, Mohawk Fine Papers, The Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Richard Meier & Partners, Sundance, and the University of Southern California.

www.burningsettlerscabin.com
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