Designer: B. Martin Pedersen
FROM WAR-TORN NORWAY TO DESIGN LEGEND:
An exceptional collector's volume documenting six decades of groundbreaking design through the eyes of one of the industry's most influential designers.
This rare, Designer: B. Martin Pedersen, traces his remarkable path from a child in Nazi-occupied Norway to becoming the visionary owner of Graphis, the international journal of visual communication.
This masterfully curated portfolio—available in a strictly limited quantity—presents Pedersen's evolution from aspiring engineer to acclaimed designer, featuring rare pieces from his early paintings to the revolutionary work that helped define modern graphic design. Each carefully selected image tells the story of a creative force who played a role in shaping the visual language of our time.
This exclusive edition features:
Pedersen's earliest works, born from his transition from Brooklyn Tech engineering student to passionate artist
The groundbreaking designs that established him as a leading figure in the industry
The transformative years at Graphis, where he elevated the publication to new heights of excellence
More than a portfolio, Designer: B. Martin Pedersen is a testament to the American dream—a visual journey that transformed his raw talent and determination into a legacy of design excellence. Through carefully curated imagery and intimate glimpses into his life, readers witness how Pedersen's sensibilities merged to create a unique and powerful design aesthetic.
For designers, art directors, and creative professionals, this limited release offers invaluable insights into the evolution of graphic design through one of its most distinguished practitioners. For collectors and admirers of visual culture, it presents an intimate look at how historical events and personal passion shaped one of the industry's most influential designers.
A Distinguished Edition:
Printed on fine art-quality stock
Featuring rare and previously unpublished works
Documenting the evolution of graphic design from the post-war era to the present
Personal insights from Pedersen's remarkable journey
Reserve your copy of Designer: B. Martin Pedersen today. A rare opportunity to own a piece of design history.
Table of Contents:
Fine Art ................................................................. 9
Calendar Series ................................................. 12
Geigy Pharmaceutical Company ...................18
Vanishing American ......................................... 20
Promotion Mailer ............................................. 22
Personal Christmas Card ................................. 23
The American Way............................................ 24
Promotion Folder .............................................. 37
Passages Magazine .......................................... 38
Environment Information Access .................. 41
The Color Connection ...................................... 44
VW Type 3 .......................................................... 46
GPS Paper Selection Collection ................... 47
Volkswagen Bus: The Gear Box .................... 52
New York Times Book Review ...................... 54
School of Visual Arts Posters ........................ 55
AIGA 120-Page Awards Book ....................... 58
Sports Car Magazine ....................................... 59
Pastimes Magazine ........................................... 66
Progress Brochure ............................................ 72
Jonson Pedersen Hinrichs & Shakery .......... 74
Citicorp Brochure ............................................. 76
Nautical Quarterly ............................................ 78
Muppets: Opening Night ................................ 92
Bell Labs ............................................................. 96
Dow Jones Annual Reports ............................ 97
U&LC Magazine ........................................... 100
Business Week Magazine ............................. 106
TDC Awards Book .......................................... 107
Hopper Papers ..................................................108
United Industrial Syndicate .......................... 112
IBM Japan ........................................................ 116
TDC Promotion Poster.................................. 118
Biggest Name in Design Poster .................. 119
SPD Annual ..................................................... 120
Graphis Photo Exhibition Brochure ........... 121
Childcraft ......................................................... 122
Encore Magazine ............................................ 123
To the Third Power .......................................... 124
Design Congress Poster ................................ 125
Japan 2011 Tsunami Poster .......................... 126
Norwegian Celebration Posters .................. 127
Poster Honoring Fritz Gottschalk .............. 130
FAO Schwatz Toy Designs .......................... 131
Iran Protest Poster .......................................... 132
Lisa Thorsen with Hurt Black Doll .............133
Five Logos ........................................................ 134
Logo for Syracuse University ..................... 135
Hopper Papers New Logo ............................. 136
Energy Medicine Magazine ......................... 140
New York Yacht Club Brochure .................. 141
Sonnenblick-Goldman Brochure ................ 142
Tools for Living ............................................... 144
SCM’s Xerographic Toner ........................... 146
Archtop Guitar Book ..................................... 149
Howard Schatz Ads ........................................ 163
Ads For Tesla ................................................... 166
United Nations of America .......................... 171
The Greatest Generations! ............................ 172
Poster for Coexistence ................................... 173
A Selection of Graphis Books...................... 175
Magazine Covers: Walter Herdeg .............. 230
Magazines Covers: B. Martin Pedersen .... 252
Graphis Website .............................................. 319
Graphis Certificates ...................................... 322
Commentary..................................................... 326
Index .................................................................. 333
BMP Biography, Photos, & Testimonials ....... 335
About the Author :
B. Martin Pedersen, publisher and creative director of Graphis, has won numerous awards in the past from the AIGA, ADC, TDC, and the SPD, who honored him with the first Herb Lubalin Award for excellence in editorial design. He also won the Columbia University National Magazine Award for the best-designed magazine of the year for Nautical Quarterly. He has been inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame, and received the AIGA Gold Medal for a lifetime achievement in Design. He is a member of Alliance Graphique International (AGI) and the New York Yacht Club.
Review :
Thank God there is Graphis: style, elegance, and class all rolled up into one publication.
—Rich Silverstein, Co-chairman, Founder, & Partner, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners
Every Designer and every Art Director should measure every effort with a single question: Is it worthy of Graphis?
—Stan Richards, Founder, The Richards Group
Inspiration is all around us. It does help, though, to have it "turbo-charged" through the pages of Graphis.
—John Hearty, Advertising Executive & Co-founder, Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Graphis is the greatest standard that all Designers aspire to. It is both beautiful to look at, and it also has award-winning content.
—DJ Stout, Partner, Pentagram
Graphis casts a wide net by featuring Design, Advertising, Photography, and Education. It prevents us all from getting a narrow view. I enjoyed it 20 years ago, and I still love it now.
—Stefan Sagmeister, Graphic Designer & Typographer, Sagmeister Inc.
Many publications present Advertising, but Graphs conveys the visual impact of Advertising, and does it in a very powerful way.
—Warren Berger, Advertising Critic
Graphis lavishly documents Design trends, coupling visual work with in-depth commentary of prominent talents. The magazine is unsurpassed in its presentation of beautiful work.
—Ellen Lupton, Design Historian, Writer, & Design Chair, Maryland Institute College of Art
It's difficult for me to imagine that anyone in the endeavor of Design can function knowingly in this field without exposure to Graphis.
—Lou Dorfsman, Art Director & Designer
I always expected that you would put out an incredibly handsome magazine. You've set the bar extremely high; every page is as close to perfection as I can imagine. My congratulations.
—Mike Hughes, President, The Martin Agency
