Walter Landor Exhibit in CCA San Francisco's Simpson Library

The Simpson Library houses a collection of work documenting Walter Landor’s career in design. A leader of the California design movement, founder of Landor Associates, and designer of notable Bay Area brands such as Muni, Levi’s, and Wells Fargo, Walter Landor was Associate Professor of Industrial Design and Interior Architecture at California College of Arts & Crafts in the 1940s, later receiving CCA/C’s honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. The California College of the Arts has chosen to exhibit selections from the archive to honor Walter Landor’s legacy, as well as to learn from his practice with Landor Associates. Showcasing pieces from the Walter Landor Collection, the exhibition investigates the process taken to create the iconic logos and brand identities that we see throughout the Bay Area and the world. One vitrine focuses on the Klamath itself, a “Visual Communications Center” that was in fact, a boat. The ferryboat housed areas for conducting exhaustive research including a shopping center and materials lab. Another vitrine looks at the work created while aboard the Klamath, including iconic designs such as the Muni logo, Cotton’s corporate brand identity, and Del Monte’s unique package design. California College of the Arts’ Simpson Library encourages you to explore the complexities of design in all regards, from packaging, to brand identity. Don’t forget to check out the pieces on view at the back wall, The Elements of Design." These large cardboard teaching materials were first used in the CCA/C Design Department’s infancy and offer a snapshot of design pedagogy at a particular moment in time.