design laboratory

In 1941, Brodovitch started Design Laboratory—a series of informal evening classes for those aspiring to magazine work. The course focused on graphic design and photography and was held in New York till 1966. Students’ worst offense was to present something Brodovitch would call “boring,” while the best compliment one could hope for was “interesting.” During his life, Brodovitch discovered many of the key photographers, artists, and designers of his time: Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Cartier Bresson, Frank Roberts, Jean Cocteau, A. M. Cassandre, Felix Topolski, and Saul Steinberg. Today editorial professionals influenced by Brodovitch and his students continue to shape the course of modern graphic design.

Alexey Brodovitch’s class at The Design Laboratory. Photographic page spread from Kerry William Purcell’s book Alexey Brodovitch, 2002.

Alexey Brodovitch’s class at The Design Laboratory. Brodovitch and his pupils sitting around a table
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