David Carson

David Carson is a graphic designer, who is best known for his innovative magazine design, and use of experimental typography. He was the art director for the magazine Ray Gun, in which he employed much of the typographic and layout style for which he is known. In particular, his widely imitated aesthetic defined the so-called "grunge typography" era.

Carson was born on September 8, 1955 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He attended San Diego State University, graduating with "Honours and Distinction" a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Carson's first contact with graphic design was in 1980 at the University of Arizona during a two-week graphics course. And his first art direction was in 1984, when he became the art director of Transworld Skateboarding magazine. He remained there until 1988, helping to give the magazine a distinctive look. By the end of his tenure he had started to develop his signature style, using "dirty" type and non-mainstream photographic techniques.

Below you will find a few of my favourites magazine covers he has designed:

 

"He is the most googled graphic designer in history, even surpassing some well known fine artists." - Eye Magazine, London

 

"He significantly influenced a generation to embrace typography as an expressive medium." - Stephen Heller, 2010
 

 

"...He feels the work..there's a strong element of intuition
-- and that fits because sometimes you can't describe
why his work is so beautiful." - Hillman Curtis

 

Graphic Design USA magazine(NYC) listed the "Most influential

graphic designers of the era." David was listed as
one of the top 5 most influential designers, along with
Milton Glaser, Paul Rand, Saul Bass and Massimo Vignelli.