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In the early 1990s, fresh out of grad school, I was working as the Design Director at the (now-defunct) Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine where, surrounded by writers and editors, I became interested myself in writing. At that time, the only writing credit I had to my name was my thesis, and the only person besides me who'd read it was Paul Rand, who wasn't terribly impressed. Undaunted, I mentioned all this to Steven Guarnaccia, who kindly mentioned it to Steve Heller, and a few days later this letter arrived.
Sight unseen, I was being offered a chance to write — to write about design! — for the AIGA Journal. I was over the moon, and leapt at the opportunity.
This marked the beginning of a long and rich collaboration and friendship, and I say this knowing that there are others who, like me, have benefited from Steve's pure generosity of spirit. Not only does he seem to write a book every ten minutes (and if you're missing any of them, we've provided links for our readers below), but he is always willing to share — a credit here, a recommendation there — all of them genuine and heartfelt and real. A willing collaborator, a supportive editor and a devoted friend to artists and designers across the globe, Steve Heller is about as close as we come, in America, to a national treasure. And today is his birthday.
Happy Birthday, Steve.
101 Books Authored, Co-Authored or Edited by Steven Heller
![](/media/images/New-Ornamental.jpg)
New Ornamental Type: Decorative Lettering in the Digital Age
Steven Heller & Gail Anderson
Thames & Hudson, 2010
![](/media/images/Design-School.jpg)
Design School Confidential
Steven Heller & Lita Talarico
Rockport Publishers, 2009
![](/media/images/Art-Direction.jpg)
Art Direction Explained, At Last!
Steven Heller & Veronique Vienne
Laurence King, 2009
![](/media/images/Marketing-Illustration.jpg)
Marketing Illustration: New Venues, New Styles, New Methods
Steven Heller & Marshall Arisman
Allworth Press, 2009
![](/media/images/Anatomy-of-Design.jpg)
Anatomy of Design
Steven Heller & Mirko Ilic
Rockport, 2009
![](/media/images/Illustration.jpg)
Illustration: A Visual History
Steven Heller & Seymour Chwast
Abrams, 2008
![](/media/images/Design-Disasters.jpg )
Design Disasters
Steven Heller, editor
Allworth Press, 2008
![](/media/images/Design-Entrepreneur.jpg)
The Design Entrepreneur
Steven Heller & Lita Talarico
Rockport, 2008
![](/media/images/iron-fists.jpg)
Iron Fists
Steven Heller & Mirko Ilic
Phaidon, 2008
![](/media/images/teaching-motion.jpg)
Steven Heller & Michael Dooley
Allworth, 2008
![](/media/images/new-vintage-type.jpg)
Steven Heller & Gail Anderson
Watson-Guptill, 2007
![](/media/images/education-photographer.jpg )
The Education of a Photographer
Steven Heller, Charles H. Traub & Adam B. Bell
Allworth, 2006
![](/media/images/stylepedia.jpg)
Stylepedia
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 2006
![](/media/images/nigel-homes.jpg)
Nigel Holmes On Information Design
Steven Heller
Jorge Pinto, 2006
![](/media/images/al-mano.jpg)
Handwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age
Steven Heller & Mirko Ilic
Thames & Hudson, 2006
![](/media/images/becoming-a-graphic-designer.jpg)
Becoming a Graphic Designer
Steven Heller & Teresa Fernandes
Wiley, 2005
![](/media/images/education-of-a-art-director.jpg)
The Education of an Art Director
Steven Heller & Veronique Vienne
Allworth, 2005
![](/media/images/education-of-a-gd.jpg)
The Education of a Graphic Designer
Steven Heller & Veronique Vienne
Allworth, 2005
![](/media/images/cuba.jpg )
Cuban Carnival
Steven Heller & Vicki Gold Levi
Universe, 2005
![](/media/images/education-of-a-CA.jpg)
The Education Of A Comics Artist
Steven Heller & Michael Dooley
Allworth, 2005
![](/media/images/euro_deco.jpg )
Euro Deco: Graphic Design Between the Wars
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 2005
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Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design
Steven Heller
Allworth, 2004
![](/media/images/times-square.jpg)
Times Square Style
Steven Heller & Vicki Gold Levi
Princeton Architectural Press, 2004
![](/media/images/hola-cuba.jpg)
Hola Cuba!
Steven Heller & Vicki Gold Levi, editors
Little Bookroom, 2004
![](/media/images/astounding.jpg)
The Designer's Guide to Astounding Photoshop Effects
Steven Heller & Gail Anderson, editors
North Light Books, 2004
![](/media/images/bandit-love.jpg)
Bandit Love
Steven Heller, editor
North Light Books, 2004
![](/media/images/east-side.jpg)
East Side West Side
Steven Heller, editor
Little Bookroom, 2004
![](/media/images/education-typographer.jpg)
The Education of a Typographer
Steven Heller, editor
Allworth, 2004
![](/media/images/teaching-design.jpg)
Teaching Graphic Design
Steven Heller, editor
Allworth, 2003
![](/media/images/Citizen-Designer.jpg)
Citizen Designer
Steven Heller & Veronique Vienne, editors
Allworth, 2003
![](/media/images/Merz-to-Emigre.jpg)
Merz to Emigre and Beyond
Steven Heller
Phaidon, 2003
![](/media/images/Cuba-Style.jpg)
Cuba Style
Steven Heller & V. Levi
Princeton Architectural Press, 2002
![](/media/images/Design-Humor.jpg)
Design Humor
Steven Heller
Allworth, 2002
![](/media/images/Looking-Closer-4.jpg)
Looking Closer 4
Steven Heller, William Drenttel & Michael Bierut, editors
Allworth, 2002
![](/media/images/Education-of-a-Design-Entrepreneur.jpg)
The Education of a Design Entrepreneur
Steven Heller
Allworth, 2002
![](/media/images/Graphic-Design-Reader.jpg)
The Graphic Design Reader
Steven Heller
Allworth, 2002
![](/media/images/Counter-Culture.jpg)
Counter Culture: The Allure of Mini-Mannequins
Steven Heller
Princeton Architectural Press, 2001
![](/media/images/Education-of-an-E-Designer.jpg)
The Education of an E-Designer
Steven Heller, editor
Allworth, 2001
![](/media/images/Graphic-Design-History.jpg)
Graphic Design History
Steven Heller & Georgette Ballance
Allworth, 2001
![](/media/images/Red-Scared.jpg)
Red Scared!
Steven Heller & Michael Barson
Chronicle, 2001
![](/media/images/Graphic-Style.jpg)
Graphic Style
Steven Heller & Seymour Chwast
Harry N. Abrams, 2001
![](/media/images/Texts-on-Type.jpg)
Texts on Type
Steven Heller & Philip B. Meggs, editors
Allworth, 2001
![](/media/images/Genius-Moves.jpg)
Genius Moves
Steven Heller & Mirko Ilic
North Light Books, 2001
![](/media/images/Education-of-an-Illustrator.jpg)
The Education of an Illustrator
Steven Heller & Marshall Arisman, editors
Allworth, 2000
![](/media/images/Graphic-Design-Time-Line.jpg)
Graphic Design Time Line
Steven Heller & Elinor Pettit
Allworth, 2000
![](/media/images/Design-Connoisseur.jpg)
Design Connoisseur
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Allworth, 2000
![](/media/images/Letterforms.jpg)
Letterforms: Bawdy, Bad and Beautiful
Steven Heller & Christine Thompson
Watson-Guptill, 2000
![](/media/images/Wedding-Bell-Blues.jpg)
Wedding Bell Blues
Steven Heller & Michael Barson
Chronicle, 2000
![](/media/images/Paul-Rand.jpg)
Paul Rand
Steven Heller
Phaidon, 2000
![](/media/images/Looking-Closer-3.jpg)
Looking Closer 3
Steven Heller, Jessica Helfand, Michael Bierut & Rick Poynor, editors
Allworth, 1999
![](/media/images/Design-Literacy-continued.jpg)
Design Literacy (Continued)
Steven Heller
Allworth, 1999
![](/media/images/Less-Is-More.jpg)
Less Is More
Steven Heller & Anne Fink
North Light Books, 1999
![](/media/images/Typology.jpg)
Typology
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
![](/media/images/German-Modern.jpg)
German Modern
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
![](/media/images/Design-Dialogues.jpg)
Design Dialogues
Steven Heller
Allworth, 1998
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Belles Lettres A 19th Century French Writing Tablet
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
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Belles Lettres An Arts and Crafts Writing Tablet
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
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Belles Lettres An Art Deco Writing Tablet
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
![](/media/images/Belles-Lettres5.jpg)
Belles Lettres An Art Nouveau Writing Tablet
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
![](/media/images/British-Modern.jpg)
British Modern
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1998
![](/media/images/Food-Wrap.jpg)
Food Wrap
Steven Heller
St. Martin's, 1998
![](/media/images/Design-Culture.jpg)
Design Culture
Steven Heller & Marie Finamore, editors
Allworth, 1997
![](/media/images/Teenage-Confidential.jpg)
Teenage Confidential
Steven Heller & Michael Barson
Chronicle, 1997
![](/media/images/Digital-Designer.jpg)
Digital Designer
Steven Heller & Daniel Drennan
Watson-Guptill, 1997
![](/media/images/Deco-Espana.jpg)
Deco Espana
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1997
![](/media/images/Looking-Closer-2.jpg)
Looking Closer 2
Steven Heller, Michael Beirut, William Drenttel & DK Holland, editors
Allworth, 1997
![](/media/images/Faces-on-the-Edge.jpg)
Faces on the Edge
Steven Heller &
Anne Fink
Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1997
![](/media/images/Deco-Type.jpg)
Deco Type
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1997
![](/media/images/Magazines-Inside-Out.jpg)
Magazines Inside & Out
Steven Heller & Teresa Fernandes
PBC International, 1997
![](/media/images/That-Entertainment.jpg)
That's Entertainment
Steven Heller & Anne Fink
PBC International, 1997
![](/media/images/Low-Budget.jpg)
Low Budget
Steven Heller
Watson-Guptill, 1997
![](/media/images/Newsletters-Now.jpg)
Newsletters Now
Steven Heller & Elinor Pettit
PBC International, 1997
![](/media/images/American-Typeplay.jpg)
American Typeplay
Steven Heller & Gail Anderson
PBC International, 1996
![](/media/images/French-Modern.jpg)
French Modern
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1996
![](/media/images/cover-Story.jpg)
Cover Story
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1996
![](/media/images/Japanese-Modern.jpg)
Japanese Modern
Steven Heller, Seymour Chwast & Fraser
Chronicle, 1996
![](/media/images/The-Business-of-Illustration.jpg)
Business of Illustration
Steven Heller & Teresa Fernandes
Watson-Guptill, 1995
![](/media/images/Jackets-Required.jpg)
Jackets Required
Steven Heller & Seymour Chwast
Chronicle, 1995
![](/media/images/Streamline.jpg)
Streamline
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1995
![](/media/images/Looking-Closer_1.jpg)
Looking Closer
Steven Heller, Michael Bierut, William Drenttel & DK Holland, editors
Allworth, 1994
![](/media/images/Covers-and-Jackets.jpg)
Covers and Jackets!
Steven Heller & Anne Fink
Rizzoli, 1994
![](/media/images/Designing-for-Children.jpg)
Designing for Children
Steven Heller & Steven Guarnaccia
Watson-Guptill, 1994
![](/media/images/Graphic-Style.jpg)
Graphic Style
Steven Heller & Seymour Chwast
Harry N Abrams, 1994
![](/media/images/Dutch-Moderne.jpg)
Dutch Moderne
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Chronicle, 1994
![](/media/images/Borrowed-Design.jpg)
Borrowed Design
Steven Heller & Julie Lasky
John Wiley & Sons, 1993
![](/media/images/Savage-Mirror.jpg)
Savage Mirror
Steven Heller
Watson-Guptill, 1992
![](/media/images/School-Days.jpg)
School Days
Steven Heller & Steven Guarnaccia
Abbeville, 1992
![](/media/images/Beautiful-Baby.jpg)
You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby
Steven Heller, Vicki Gold Levi & Seymour Chwast
Hyperion, 1992
![](/media/images/Angry-Graphics.jpg)
Angry Graphics
Steven Heller & Karrie Jacobs
Gibbs Smith, 1992
![](/media/images/Designing-With-Illustration.jpg)
Designing With Illustration
Steven Heller & Karen Pomeroy
Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990
![](/media/images/Trylon-and-Perisphere.jpg)
Trylon and Perisphere
Steven Heller, Barbara Cohen & Seymour Chwast
Harry N Abrams, 1989
![](/media/images/Sourcebook.jpg)
Sourcebook of Visual Ideas
Steven Heller
Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989
![](/media/images/New-York-Observed.jpg)
New York Observed
Steven Heller, Barbara Cohen & Seymour Chwast, editors
Harry N Abrams, 1987
![](/media/images/Innovators.jpg)
Innovators of American Illustration
Steven Heller, editor
Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1986
![](/media/images/Art-Against-War.jpg)
Art Against War
Steven Heller, D. J. R. Bruckner & Seymour Chwast
Abbeville,1984
![](/media/images/Man-Bites-Man.jpg)
Man Bites Man
Steven Heller, editor
Hutchinson, 1981
![](/media/images/Artists-Christmas-Cards.jpg)
Artists Christmas Cards
Steven Heller
Fireside, 1981
25 More Books Authored, Co-Authored or Edited by Steven Heller
The Book of Waters (A&W Press) - 1979
The Empire State Building Book (St. Martins) - 1979
Sin City Fables (A&W Press) - 1980
Jules Feiffer's America (Knopf) - 1981
War Heads: Cartoonists for a Nuclear Weapons Freeze (Penguin) - 1982
The Art of Satire: Painters as Cartoonists and Caricaturists for Delacroix to Picasso (Horizon Press) - 1984
Seymour Chwast: The Left Handed Designer (Abrams) - 1985
The Fifties Revisited (Universe) - 1985
The Little Theatre: A Christmas Carol (Viking Kestrel) - 1985
Design Career (Van Nostrand Reinhold) - 1987
Graphic Style: From Victorian to Post-Modern (Abrams) - 1987
Low Budget/High Quality Design: The Art of Inexpensive Visual Communications (Watson Guptil) - 1988
Graphic Wit: The Art of Humor in Design (Watson Guptil) - 1989
Carta Italiana (Chronicle) - 1995
100 Best Posters of Europe and America (Toppan) - 1997
Papier Francias (Chronicle Giftworks) - 1999
The Italian Art Deco Address Book (Chronicle Giftworks) - 1999
Design Dialogues (Allworth Press) - 1998
Becoming a Graphic Designer (Van Nostrand) - 1999
Sex Appeal: The Art of Allure in Advertising and Graphic Design (Allworth) - 2000
Graphic Design Timeline (Allworth Press) - 2000
Genius Rules: 100 Icons of Graphic Design (North Light Press) - 2001
The Push Pin Graphic (Chronicle Books) - Fall 2004
Inside the Illustration Business (Allworth Press) - Fall 2004
Design Literacy Revised (Allworth Press) - Fall 2004
Comments [16]
VR/
07.07.10
04:10
Design 101
07.07.10
04:47
Thanks for all you've done to advance the intellect of our profession. My bookshelves are full of you.
07.07.10
06:19
07.07.10
07:29
07.07.10
10:35
07.08.10
10:03
Drab and dreary is what the world would be like without Steve Heller. Aside from his extraordinary output (101 books! Hundreds of forewords, introductions, articles, blog posts, and so on!), Jessica has accurately zeroed in on what makes Steve a true national treasure: his pure generosity of spirit. He has selflessly and quietly helped and influenced so many, many designers, illustrators and writers. In fact, if it weren't for Steve, I would not have the life that I have. But I owe him more than my gratitude; I owe him for so many introductions and opportunities I would never, ever have had without his help.
Thank you, Steve, for all you have done for me, for the design community, for the School of Visual Arts, for the New York Times, for AIGA, for Print Magazine and so on! My life would be drab and dreary without you. A most Happy, Happy Birthday to you. You deserve all the joy in the world.
07.08.10
11:08
07.08.10
11:27
07.08.10
11:32
Steve, for the generosity you offer with every conversation, with every email, with every essay, with every book, with every moment of your time, I thank you. Thank you for seeing connections among people, ideas, objects, eras, antagonists, heros, and underdogs, unlike no one can. Thank you for crafting them into stories so that we can all see them as well. Most of all, the happiest of birthdays to you!
07.08.10
11:32
07.08.10
12:18
07.08.10
12:42
07.09.10
01:43
07.12.10
12:41
Thank you Steve, and a belated Happy Birthday!
07.22.10
02:58
Perhaps you are not aware of the impact of your books around the world.
Certainly, they were among the first graphic design titles to hit Australian bookstores - and soon encouraged a new category - 'Design' - instead of being mixed up with Michelangelo, Rubens and Indigenous art.
So I'd like to thank you for your seemingly inexhaustible range of interests - and the quality of your collaborations and publications. My bookshelves contain many of these books and they are treasured.
Incidentally, 'Trylon and Perisphere' was one of my favorites but was lost in a flood, so I'm delighted to find that it's still available!
(And thanks, too, to Jessica for giving people an opportunity to acknowledge Steven like this!)
All best wishes (again, belatedly) and thank you.
07.22.10
07:57