This is Neil Fujita (1921 –2010)...
He was a Hawaiian born American of Japanese immigrant parents. And was one of the most noted graphic designers working out of New York in the early 1950’s. He was most celebrated for his stint as art director at Columbia records where he produced and commissioned a raft of highly original designs that helped change the face of album cover presentation. Jazz was his particular forte and this cover for The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time Out album caused quite a stir when it first appeared in 1959…
Along with many others...
For me it is his paintings rather than his graphics that I find so striking and current. Here are a few...
Above for a Charie Mingus album cover 1959
His work also graced many advertisments, magazine and book covers...
For Modern Packaging 1961
Fourtune magazine 1954
And in 1962 he wrote his own book (below) to help demistify the world of graphic design.
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.
Posted by: Gerry Simons | September 13, 2012 at 10:23 AM
What a shame, I’ve never heard of him before. By the way, I made a quick search on the web and you can buy the book from a merely $296.54.
Posted by: Gerhard | September 13, 2012 at 01:04 PM
The book that inspired Michael Beirut.
http://johnsonbanks.co.uk/thoughtfortheweek/index.php?thoughtid=749
How many others?
Posted by: Andrew Kingham | September 13, 2012 at 05:44 PM
Great work buddy, keep it up
Posted by: graphic design service | November 23, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Nice to know that his works are being appreciated. During those days it was tough to make it in the graphic arts world.
Posted by: Isaac Austin | December 27, 2012 at 08:37 AM