Derek birdsall biography

British graphic designer (–)

Derek Birdsall, RDI (1 August – 4 May ) was a British graphic designer.^[1]

Early life

Birdsall was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire on 1 August , and attended The King's School, Pontefract, Wakefield College of Art and Central School of Arts and Crafts in London.^[2] "At Central, Birdsall came under the influence of Anthony Froshaug, who – alongside Herbert Spencer and Edward Wright – taught his students the difference between beautiful lettering and typography proper, with its pre-eminent concerns of clarity, directness and, above all, textual legibility." Birdsall failed to earn a diploma, however, and began his career in design in the late s and early s.

Career

Birdsall's career and fame were built on a variety of designs and commissions. During his long career—among much other work—Birdsall designed Penguin book covers and Pirelli calendars; he art-directed several magazines (including Nova and Mobil Oil