The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 30 with Designer, Educator & Writer Michael Bierut

Michael Bierut (@MichaelBierut) is one of today’s most renowned and respected graphic designers. Since 1990, he has been a Partner at Pentagram, where he works with clients like MIT Media Lab, The Yale School of Architecture, and the New York Jets. In addition to his work at Pentagram, he is a Senior Critic in Graphic Design at the Yale School of Art and co-founded the online publication Design Observer, where he writes about design and creative culture.
Together we discuss Michael’s feelings in becoming a business owner, how he divides work duties with his team, the clunky process of learning business skills as a young designer, and the exhaustive routines which power his morning. We also learn the 19-syllable Starbucks order he buys each working day, and how long it takes him to run 3 miles.
Read more about Michael via his lengthy biography on Pentagram’s website.
Show Notes & Links

Pentagram’s New York Office, and its library, where we recorded this episode

Michael Bierut in the Pentagram Library. Image via The Architectural League of NY


Michael [still] thinks of himself as a “working graphic designer”
Michael’s previous — and only — employers were Massimo & Lella Vignelli


As a young designer, he “never spent a minute lying in bed wondering if a client was going to pay an overdue invoice.”
Michael writes his own proposals; there is no “behemoth” behind the scenes
“I thought I was ready to be a business owner, but I really didn’t know much about it.” ← Click to tweet
Pentagram Partners “really like to do the work.”
Michael currently works with 6 designers, 2 project managers, and 2 interns.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ← Click to tweet
Teaching business skills to designers isn’t “baked in” to Pentagram’s ethos, but it happens through close collaboration
Without cultural context, working as a designer can be a “long road to carpal tunnel syndrome.”
Knopf Doubleday, publisher
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
New York Times
“The world we live in was created by people no smarter than us.” —Prescott mis-quoting Steve Jobs ← Click to tweet
“Designers are actors playing a part. We have to learn about X and show the world X.” ← Click to tweet
Michael is a Lazy Designer
“The time I invest [in proposals] is always intense and personal.” ← Click to tweet
Michael’s famous sketchbooks notebooks. Currently working with #104.
Make It Bigger by Paula Scher

Tools

Marble composition notebooks
Venti Triple Non-Fat Cappuccino from Starbucks

Techniques

Oversee a single designer, bring on a second only if you need it
Keep your pitches/responses to briefs short but purposeful. Don’t participate in theatrics.
Ponder a problem during your morning run. Solve it during that time.

Habits

Wake up early (5:15a–5:35a)
Jog 3 miles every morning
Use vacations as a time to focus on a particular project
Build writing into your routine. Chunk it down and don’t give yourself a chance to escape.