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More is more: the gaudy genius of the late Deborah Sussman

2014-08-27T13:57:00-04:00

“More is more,” was the motto of Deborah Sussman, the graphic designer behind this brilliant visual riot, who died last week at the age of 82. Trained in the office of Charles and Ray Eames, she took their love of colour and pattern to new heights, establishing a studio with her husband, Paul Prejza, that would tackle everything from shop fit-outs to city wayfinding, sprinkling her distinctive brand, like sugary confetti, from Philadelphia to Santa Monica.

One week ago: Deborah Sussman, designer, has died at age 83

Deborah Sussman, designer, has died at age 83

2014-08-20T14:23:00-04:00

We are very sad to learn of the passing of amazing designer Deborah Sussman, who died this morning after a battle with cancer." — @DesignObserver

Designer Deborah Sussman passed away this morning at age 83.

Perhaps best known for her environmental and graphic design for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Sussman began her career working as an office designer for Charles and Ray Eames in the 1950s. She founded her own firm in 1968, and created Sussman/Prejza & Co. along with her husband, architect and urban planner Paul Prejza, in 1980.

Her distinctively colorful and intrepid graphical work brought character to Disney World, the city of Santa Monica, CA, and the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco.

View a selection of Sussman's graphical and environmental work in the gallery below.

WUHO Gallery Kickstarts fund for the first Deborah Sussman retrospective

2013-11-07T13:23:00-05:00

Love Deborah Sussman? Woodbury University's WUHO Gallery in Los Angeles began the "Deborah Sussman Loves LA!" Kickstarter on Oct. 25 with a goal to host the first retrospective dedicated to the iconic graphic designer this December. Funding will mainly support installation of the exhibition as well as the creation of a poster and a panel discussion.

Here's a description of the exhibition:

"This December 2013, Woodbury University’s WUHO Gallery will host an exhibition dedicated to the groundbreaking environmental graphic design of Deborah Sussman. This will be the first retrospective of her early work, including projects completed while she was at the Eames Office up to the 1984 Olympics. This will be a month-long celebration that will include a panel discussion, gallery exhibition, and poster publication. The exhibition is curated and organized by Catherine Gudis, Barbara Bestor, Thomas Kracauer, and Shannon Starkey."

"From her years with the Eames Studio in the 1950s and 1960s, her pa...

Cal Poly Pomona ENV40 Celebration

2011-04-12T15:09:02-04:00

Event includes panel discussions featuring leaders of the environmental design professions including: Marvin J. Malecha, Ray Kappe, Richard Chylinski, Frank Clementi, Stefanos Polyzoides, Deborah Sussman, Michael Rotondi, Ken Smith, Rick Bishop, and Lorraine Wild.

SCHEDULE OF ENV 40 PANELS, Saturday April 16th 2011

10 – 11 am: The early years

Dean Emeritus Marvin J. Malecha, FAIA, 2009 President of the American Institute of Architects
Professor Emeritus Ray Kappe, FAIA, former Chair of the Architecture Department (who went on to found SCI-ARC)
Professor Emeritus Richard Chylinski, FAIA, former Chair of the Architecture Department (who helped establish the department in 1966)
Professor Emeritus Ken Nakaba, FASLA, former Chair of the Landscape Architecture Department
Professor Emeritus Bob Perry, Landscape Architecture Department
Professor Emeritus Charles Loggins, Urban and Regional Planning Department, former Associate Dean of ENV

11 – 11:45 am: Years of growth

Dean Emeritus Barry Wasserman, FAIA, former California State Architect
Professor Emeritus Rod Tapp, FASLA, Landscape Architecture Department
Calvin Abe, FASLA, AHBE Landscape Architects
Steven A. Preston, FAICP, City Manager, City of San Gabriel
Bob Kain, AIA, Healthcare Principal, HMC Architec...