In 2009 the University launched the first UB Midtown Campaign. Four renowned artists—Milton Glaser;
Jason Kernevich and Dustin Summers of The Heads of State; Scott Roberts and Nick Dewar—gave artistic life to the University's official slogan, Knowledge That Works.
To many,
Milton Glaser
is the embodiment of American graphic design during the latter half of this century. Born in 1929, Glaser co-founded the revolutionary Pushpin Studios in 1954, founded New York Magazine with Clay Felker in 1968, established Milton Glaser Inc. in 1974, and teamed with Walter Bernard in 1983 to form the publication design firm WBMG. His artwork has been featured in exhibits worldwide, including one-man shows at both the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His work is in the permanent collections of many museums.
Glaser also is a renowned graphic and architectural designer with a body of work ranging from the iconic logo I ♥ New York to complete graphic and decorative programs for the restaurants in the World Trade Center. Glaser is an influential figure in both the design and education communities and has contributed essays and granted interviews extensively on design.
"Working directly from the words themselves—Knowledge That Works—it seemed to me that a chameleon, skillful and unerring, is an excellent example of how knowledge can be a survival mechanism."
The Heads of State is the design and illustration studio of Jason Kernevich and Dustin Summers founded in Philadelphia in 2002. Together they have garnered dozens of awards for their posters, illustrations and book covers that combine a restrained graphic style with their sharp intellect. Clients include The New York Times, Penguin, The School of Visual Arts, Wired magazine, as well as musical acts R.E.M. and Wilco. Together they teach at Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, where they both studied.
"We chose a simple graphic juxtaposition of images that conveys the importance of knowledge, wisdom and experience."
Scott Roberts has been making pictures his whole life and has worked as a freelance illustrator for 25 years. His bold, graphic illustrations communicate concepts with economical use of imagery and a lack of visual clutter. Awards include The Illustrators Club of Washington, Print's Regional Design Annual, Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington, Society of Publication Designers, Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles and Society of Illustrators in New York. Roberts lives and works in Bel Air, Md.
"When doing an illustration, I always attempt to create a clear visual concept while at the same time leaving room for the viewer's own interpretation. I hope this image does just that for the idea of Knowledge That Works."
In memory of Nick Dewar (1973-2010)
Nick Dewar was born in Scotland. He grew up in a small fishing town on the East Coast and attended Art School in Glasgow. He lived in Prague, London, New York, southern California and on a sheep farm in Cumbria. Illustration was Dewar's sole occupation.
His work appeared in magazines, cinemas, on billboards and in books. He published in countries as far flung as China and Iceland but mostly in the Americas. Dewar admired the work of E. McKnight Kauffer, the Steinberg brothers, Anthony Valonis, Eric Fraser, Earl Oliver Hurst and Ivor Cutler.
"After some discussion with the art department as to what the main focus of this illustration should be, we settled on the fact that many students who attend the University of Baltimore are older and have clear ideas of what they hope to gain from attending classes here: gaining credentials that allow them to move up or switch to better or more enjoyable jobs.
"I wanted to show how attending the University can alter people's lives. This is the strength that knowledge has. And what better way to show that than a burly strongman? Covering the man in tattoos seemed like a good way to tie together the disparate elements of university life and help present the University as a unified entity."
