T HE WORLD OF Reynold Ruffins
This booklet about Reynold Ruffins was designed and produced by Nicole Nunes in the Fall of 2022 for DSGD 83 (Professor Ragouzeos) at San Jose State University. Front and back cover contains all original work by Nicole Nunes.
Sources for all graphics on interior pages are as follows:
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Doronio, Shannon. “Reynold Ruffins.” Revision Needed, Revision Needed, 12 Nov. 2019, https://www.revisionneeded.com/reynold-ruffins/2019/10/7/reynold-ruffins.
Green, Penelope. “Reynold Ruffins, Push Pin Studios Graphic Artist, Dies at 90.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Aug. 2021, https://www.nytimes. com/2021/08/01/obituaries/reynold-ruffins-dead.html.
Ruffins, Reynold. “Reynold Ruffins.” Reynold Ruffins: Artist, Graphic Designer, Painter, http://www.reynoldruffins.com/about.html.
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“Reynold Ruffins.” Reynold Ruffins | People’s Graphic Design Archive, https://peoplesgdarchive.org/creative/605/reynold-ruffins.
“Sesame Street Magazine.” Muppet Wiki, https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Sesame_Street_Magazine.
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“Reynold Ruffins.” Reynold Ruffins | People’s Graphic Design Archive, https://peoplesgdarchive.org/creative/605/reynold-ruffins.
“Running the Road to ABC.” Book by Denize Lauture, Reynold Ruffins | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster, https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/RunningThe-Road-To-ABC/Denize-Lauture/9780689831652.
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“Reynold Ruffins.” Reynold Ruffins | People’s Graphic Design Archive, https://peoplesgdarchive.org/creative/605/reynold-ruffins.
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“1969 Metropolitan Museum of Art Promotional Poster ‘Harlem on My Mind.’” LOT, https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/1969-Metropolitan-Museum-of-Art-Promotional-Poster-Harlem-on-my-Mind/18bos220m115-1969_metropolitan_museum-23.10.18-ebth.
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Reynold Ruffins was an African American illustrator, painter, and graphic designer. He was born on August 5, 1930 in New York City, New York and recently passed away on July 11, 2021. During his childhood, he grew up in the Queens district and attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City. For college, Ruffins attend Cooper Union and pursued in the Arts. He graduated with the most prestigious award, The Augustus St. Gaudens Award for outstanding professional achievement in the arts. From there, he joined the iconic Push Pin Studios and later on created his own studio with his friend Simms Taback. Throughout his career he has taught through multiple schools such as Queens College CUNY, School of Visual Arts, and at Syracuse University. He has also commissioned for clients such as New York Times, IBM, Coca-Cola, CBS, and many more. His designs were known to play with shapes and draw attention to relevant and at times trivial social issues. Also, he would include vibrant colors, trippy psychedelic style, and witty faux-nostalgic imagery.
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Sesame Street Magazine, issue 9 1972 Magazine Cover
It was published to support educational initiates of Sesame Street. Focused on numbers.
Sesame Street Magazine, issue 29 Feburary 1974
Magazine Cover
The cover was designed to support educational initiates of Sesame Street. Focused on love.
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Running the Road to ABC 2000
Illustration, Book Designed for Jane Sarnoff
It was published to tell a story about six Haitian children on their way to school.
Amtrak Express Magazine 1983
Illustration, Magazine Design for commercial purpose for Amtrak Express.
The design caught people’s eyes with its bright colors and shapes.
Cosmopolitan September 1975 Illustration, Magazine
Designed for Cosmopolitan to talk about how to improve your memory.
Black Composers Series, Vol.9 1978
Illustration, Album Cover Designed for Columbia Masterworks
The album cover was designed to help highlight black composers.
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The Chess Book 1975
Illustration, Book Designed for Jane Sarnoff
It was published to help people learn how to play chess step-by-step.
The Bicycle Book 1976
Illustration, Book Designed for Jane Sarnoff
Illustrations was for people to learn about bikes and how to take care of one.
Push Pin Almanack 1954 Publication, Magazine
It was published for advertising, art studio, and publications.
Push Pin Graphic, no.21 1959 Publication, Magazine
It was designed to attract potential clients and show off their works.
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Harlem On My Mind 1969
Lithographic Poster Designed for Metropolitan Museum of Art
This piece was designed for a historical view point and shows significant images from African American history.
Reynold Ruffins was a great addition to the Push Pin Studio. Along with Seymour Chwast, Milton Glaser, Edward Sorel, and many more. They made design fun again. “They made entertainment out of design” said Steven Heller, former art director for New York Times book review. Ruffins’s artworks helped bring back older styles with a new twist to it. He was a part of the Postmodernism era in graphic design which was to challenge the orthodoxy style of the International Typographic Style. His impact helped chart a commercial style recognizable for its expressionistic juxtapositions and exaggerated forms. He was able to break down many stereotypes that came with being an African American and was able to present a new view on artists and their impact to society. Overall, Reynold Ruffins has influenced and impacted the design industry with his variety of illustrations.
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Book designed by Nicole Nunes December 2022 for DSGD 83 at SJSU