Through much of her career, Los Angeles-based graphic designer Lorraine Wild (born 1953) has specialized in books, particularly collaborations with artists, architects, and museums.
Lorraine Wild in her Los Angeles library. Photo by Al Seib/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images.
She was among the first American designers to take apart the clear grids and minimalistic forms of Modernism, believing that collage could better respond to the fractured nature of modern society. In the early 1990s, Wild helped found Los Angeles design firm ReVerb, and in 1996, she established her own studio, Green Dragon Office.
Beat Culture and the New America: 1950–1965 book by Allen Ginsberg, cover design by Lorraine Wild. Inc.: 1995.
Wild is the designer of over 70 notable books and exhibition catalogues on architecture, art, photography and other cultural topics. “You have to be interested in culture to design for it,” is a quote often attributed to Lorraine Wild. In 2001, Wild was awarded a Gold Medal by the New York Art Directors Club for the design of her Height of Fashion art book. She has also received numerous awards from such prestigious organizations as the American Center for Design, the American Institute of Architects and the American Association of University Publishers.
Buddha Mind in Contemporary Art book. University of California Press, 2004. Designed by Lorraine Wild and Robert Ruehlman. Courtesy Green Dragon Office.
Height of Fashion book; 1st edition: June 1, 2000.
Zaha Hadid (1950–2016) left an indelible mark on the world of architecture and design. In 2004 she became the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Zaha Hadid. Photo by Steve Double.
She established her practice in London in 1980, laying the foundation for a remarkable career.
Guangzhou Opera House. Photo by Chijui Yeh on Unsplash.
Among her most renowned achievements is the Guangzhou Opera House in China, a masterpiece that challenges architectural norms with fluid form that diverges from the typical symmetrical designs of opera houses. Completed in 2010, this building boasts a flowing glass and steel exterior that blends seamlessly with the landscape. Hadid’s design for the MAXXI museum in Rome showcases her avant-garde style. This museum, completed in 2010, is a dynamic structure that redefined the concept of museum architecture, earning her international acclaim. Her distinctive style made an impact in the fashion industry, leading to collaborations with various fashion brands. A prime example of her work is the Mobile Art Pavilion she designed for Chanel, which made waves in Paris. Zaha Hadid Architects, carrying forward Zaha Hadid’s legacy, continues to shape the architectural landscape with cutting-edge designs. Following her passing in 2016, the firm has undertaken such projects as the Leeza SOHO Tower in Beijing with a spiraling atrium, and the Morpheus Hotel in Macau, which features an exoskeleton structure that creates a futuristic appearance, to name a few.
Interior of the MAXXI museum for contemporary arts in Rome, Italy. Photo by Commonurbock23. Creative Commons license.
The Chanel Pavilion. Photo by udono, Creative Commons license.