Advertising’s Hall of Famer George Lois Weighs in on Creative and the Ad World in 2013 – Part I
Co-Hosts Brad Forsythe and Ray Schilens interview legendary Art Director George Lois. The legendary
George Lois is the most creative, prolific advertising communicator of our time. Running his own ad agencies, he is renowned for dozens of marketing miracles that triggered innovative and populist
changes in American (and world) culture. In his twenties he was a pioneer of
the landmark Creative Revolution in American Advertising. He introduced and
popularized the Xerox culture; he created the concept and prototype design for
the New York supplement for the Herald Tribune (the forerunner of New York
magazine); made a failing MTV a huge success with his “I Want My MTV” campaign;
helped create and introduce VH1; created a new marketing category, Gourmet
Frozen Foods, with his name Lean Cuisine; and (by inventing yet another new
marketing phenomenon) persuaded America to change their motor oil at thousands
of Jiffy Lube stations. He made the totally unknown Tommy Hilfiger immediately
famous with just one ad; and saved USA Today from extinction with his
breakthrough singing TV campaign. In 1994, almost overnight, he changed the
perception of ESPN from a Demolition Derby sports channel to the number one
sports network with his dynamic “In Your Face” campaign. Additionally, he
created the winning ad campaigns for four U.S. Senators: Jacob Javits (R-NY);
Warren Magnuson (D-WA); Minority Leader Hugh Scott (R-PA); Robert Kennedy
(D-NY). His list of breakthrough ad campaigns goes on and on. Additionally, the
only music video he created, Jokerman by Bob Dylan, won the MTV Best Music
Video of the Year Award in 1983.
George Lois is the only person in the world inducted into The Art Directors Hall of Fame,
The One Club Creative Hall of Fame, with Lifetime Achievement Awards from the
American Institute of Graphic Arts, The Herb Lubalin Award (Society of
Publication Designers), CLIO (presented by Tommy Hifiger), as well as a subject of
the Master Series at the School of Visual Arts. In 2013, Lois was voted The
Most Influential Art Director of the Past 50 Years by Graphic Design USA.
He is the author of George, Be Careful (Saturday Review Press, 1972), an autobiography; The
Art of Advertising (Abrams, 1976), praised as “the bible of mass communications”;
What’s the Big Idea? (Doubleday, 1991), used as a text book in college
communications courses all over the world; “Covering the 60s” (The Monacelli
Press, 1996), presenting his iconic Esquire covers during that turbulent
decade; $ellebrity (Phaidon, 2003), a brilliantly reviewed book dealing with
his extraordinary campaigns using celebrities in fresh and outrageous ways; Ali
Rap, The First Heavyweight Champion of Rap (Taschen/ESPN, 2006), a compilation
of over 300 rap rhythms, witticisms, insults and wisecracks from Muhammad Ali,
wittily and powerfully visualized; and Iconic America (Rizzoli/Universe, 2007),
a roller coaster ride through the eye-popping panorama of American pop culture;
George Lois on his Creation of The Big Idea (Assouline, 2008), a mind-boggling
archeological dig revealing the influences on 100 of his Big Ideas. In 2008 the
Museum of Modern Art installed 38 of the iconic Esquire covers in its permanent
collection, celebrated by a year-long exhibit and book; George Lois: The Esquire
Covers @ MoMA (Assouline 2010). George’s latest book is Damn Good Advice (for
people with talent) (Phaidon, 2012), 120 no-holds-barred, in-your-face lessons,
explaining, demonstrating, and ultimately teaching how to unleash your
potential in any creative-driven industry, published in six languages.
Additionally, George is in the process of designing Lois Logos, and a revised
e-book version of George, be careful called An Autobiography of the Real Mad
Man: George, be careful. Both to be released in 2014.
For additional information, go to www.georgelois.com.
For entertaining advice join hosts, Ray Schilens and Brad Forsythe, for a lively and informative discussion.”
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