Although black designers have made significant contributions to the field of graphic design, they still represent a minority. A study conducted by AIGA revealed that only about 3-5% of graphic designers identify as black. This motivated me to explore the legacies of black graphic designers who have laid the foundation for aspiring African American designers, serving as a source of inspiration for individuals like myself. It's up to designers like myself to help continue to pave the way for up-and-coming African American designers and keep the legacy of those before us alive. Here are some of my favorite black graphic designers in design history that I have come across.

1. Art Sims

Art Sims worked as an art director at Columbia Records while attending Michigan State University in the 1970’s. After graduating, he went on to become the art director at EMI Records. Art Sims began working with Spike Lee and was the designer for many of his movie posters, including the iconic movie poster for “Do The Right Thing.” Art Sims designed posters for some of the most famous films in African American cinema, like “The Color Purple,” “Malcom X,” and “Black Panther.”

2. Gail Anderson

Gail Anderson is a New York-based graphic designer primarily known for her expressive typography and hand lettering. Anderson attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City, and graduated with a BFA. After college, Anderson worked as a designer for Vintage Books and the Boston Globe. Later on, Gail Anderson worked at Rolling Stone as the senior art director for fifteen years. Anderson was the first woman of color to be awarded the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement, receiving the award in 2018.

3. Thomas Miller

Thomas Miller worked at Morton Goldsholl Associates, one of Chicago's leading graphic design studios between the 1950’s and 1970’s. Miller worked here for most of his career. While at Morton Goldsholl, Miller worked on projects for some of today's most renowned companies, Motorola and 7Up, to name a few. In addition to his graphic design work, Miller is also a visual artist, having created many famous mosaic pieces that are displayed in museums today.

4. Sylvia Harris

Sylvia Harris attended Yale School of Art and graduated with her MFA. After graduating, Harris went on to co-found Two Twelve, a consulting firm with two of her classmates, and later on established "Sylvia Harris LLC" in 1944. Harris's primary focus in design was "public information design,” dedicating her life's work to ensuring accessibility and improving public communication. Harris was one of the first designers to prioritize the user experience over aesthetics.

5. Emmett McBain

Emmett McBain studied at the American Academy of Art and IIT Institute of Design. He went on to join Vince Cullers Advertising, the first African American ad agency, and then became Playboy’s promotional art director at just twenty-two years old. When working on campaigns for different companies, McBain brought more black representation to the table. His campaigns with Newport and McDonalds famously highlight this. Not only known for his campaign work, Emmett McBain also designed cover art for many jazz records during his career, pioneering a new and exciting style for jazz cover art during that time.

6. Jackie Ormes

Famously known as the first Black woman cartoonist in America, Jackie Ormes broke down barriers in the art world. In the 1930’s, she started working at The Pittsburgh Courier, a black-owned newspaper. Her journey there started as a proofreader, and then she moved through several positions before they published her first cartoon strip. Later, in the 1940’s, she moved to Chicago, where The Chicago Defender published her cartoons. The most well-known work by Ormes, "Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger," was a powerful political allegory about African-American life.

7. Cheryl D. Miller

Cheryl D. Miller is known for her work as an advocate for diversity and inclusion within the graphic design space. Miller studied at the Pratt Institute in the late 1980’s. While studying there, Cheryl D. Miller frequently questioned the ethics revolving around how African American graphic designers are treated within the art world. Miller's thesis, "Black Designers: Missing in Action," was later picked up and published by Print magazine. Miller established one of the first African American woman-led design firms in New York, named after herself, Cheryl D. Miller Design Inc. It was here that Miller worked on projects for companies like BET, Sports Illustrated, Chase Bank, American Express, and more.