A Design Hero...

My first encounter with Saul Bass was through the 1968 film Why Man Creates. Only a small girl back then, I recall watching with awe, astonished at the smooth yet fast transitions much similar to the dynamic turning of history. A playful, yet profound way to abridge the extensive process and social implications of creativity, the film touched on both visceral and the more complex intellectual level.

Rewatching the film now, I can now reflect on the film holistically. Every episode is distinct and presented in a unique way— hand drawn animation to live filming. Yet, each story connected to each other thematically from the power of problem solving in design, the trials and errors involved, and the responsibilities of leaving our mark. In a way, it was almost as if taking a glimpse into the philosophy of Saul Bass himself.

Perhaps that is why I would designate Saul Bass my Design hero. The power of his design stems from the combination of intellect and emotion. From him, I discovered the power of images—the way his symbolic and iconic visuals are still timeless, as if relaying the precise words to communicate the most complex verbal concept. Transcending the boundaries that separated design, film, architecture, and art, Bass has allowed our visual landscape to grow.