David Carson

David Carson is an American graphic designer. He is best known for his innovative magazine design, and use of experimental typography. He was the art director for the magazine Ray Gun. Carson was perhaps the most influential graphic designer of the 1990s. In particular, his widely imitated aesthetic defined the so-called "grunge typography" era.



I was introduced to David Carson a few years ago when we first started typography and graphic design. He stood out to me because at the time i was very into grungy gritty artwork, he also incorperates a style of colage which i am a huge fan of with a mix of random not always legible type. His work seems so different to everyone elses as he pushes the boundries and doesnt really care what people think of it. He is famous world wide and never uses the same style more than one. Each piece of artwork, graphics work and type is different and took to the next level professionaly. I love the imagery that is used in his work, it always has a 90's pop era element about it, but its timeless the way he has manipulated everything around the layout design to go with it.

Some designs are so simple but look so dramatic next to complex images. All in all i will never forget the work of David Carson as he has influenced alot of my personal work and i always seem to refer back to him in my practice. My work never looks or strays near what his designs are like, so i think he has influenced and inspired me in all the right ways.