Charles Laforest Goslin (February
23, 1932 – May 16, 2007) was an American
graphic designer and professor of graphic design and illustration
at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York (1966 – 2007).
He also taught at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in
New York City
(1975 – 1985). Goslin was educated
at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) graduating
in 1954.
For most of his career, he worked as a one-person
studio out of his home in Park Slope, Brooklyn, favoring independence
over "filtering
my work through another artist." He was also a popular professor
known for his candid criticism and unique assignments.
His clients included IBM, Price Waterhouse, Pfizer
Inc., Merck, and Harper & Row Inc. His work has been published
in Graphis, Idea, Print, CA Art Direction, Step-by-Step, and Dictionary
of Graphic Images. He has won awards and recognition from the Society
of Illustrators, AIGA and Art Directors Club. He was also awarded
the Distinguished Teacher Award 2003–04, Pratt Institute.
His work is in the collections of several museums.
Goslin died on May 16, 2007 following the first day of summer classes
at Pratt Institute.
Early Life and Education
Charles Goslin was born on February 23, 1932 in Attleboro, Massachusetts
to Florence Pauline Guyot and Herbert Hyland Goslin. He is
a descendant of Numa Guyot, a Swiss master engraver. Growing
up, Goslin was interested in ministry and law, particularly as a defense
attorney ("Clarence Darrow was a great hero of mine.") He was
also interested in "calling Boston Braves baseball games." However,
his main focus was in art and drawing which led him to RISD.
While at RISD, Goslin notes instructor James
Pfeufer as an important influence. "Jim critiqued design
projects with the utmost respect. He taught me how to value graphic
design."
After graduating with a BFA in 1954, Goslin declined a scholarship
to Yale Graduate School. ("Great university. Lousy art school.")
At the time, he was eligible for mandatory military service but
was excused.
Goslin was married in 1955 to Caroline Millicent Ryder for ten
years.
Career
Goslin's career began at the studio of American graphic design pioneer
Lester Beall in Brookfield, Connecticut (1954 – 1958).
He worked with trademarks, corporate identity, posters, and editorial
publications. He especially loved the covers of publications
which he called "the designer's paintings."
After four years, he left Beall's studio
to pursue freelance work. He moved to Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
and worked with corporate identity firm Lippincott & Margulies (now known as Lippincott
Mercer). Three years later, he moved to Park Slope, Brooklyn and
started his own studio full-time out of his home. After a year,
he was working "seven days a week and ten hours a day and
turning down a third [of projects] of what came in."
As a professor, Goslin taught graphic design and
illustration by assigning news clippings with real but unusual
stories. The student would interpret
the story or problem through a round of sketches, then produce
the final work in the assigned medium (which sometimes would be
left to the student. Goslin stressed the importance of exploring
different ways to communicate including mediums like performance
art or video.) He never repeated an article or story and wrote "about
a thousand projects." He
used news clippings because it was something he would enjoy himself. "I
liked things that are specific... to work on myself... and the
best place to find them was any newspaper." Occasionally,
Goslin would "write a ringer" and assign the clipping,
including one example about the Roman Coliseum becoming Rome's
first shopping mall.
As a professional, Goslin worked alone out
of his home. He found "New
York [graphic design] studios... expensive" and "trashy" and
preferred the simplicity of his apartment. "I work in a sitting
room. And that's what I want."
SOURCE:
StoryCorps
Interview, November 26, 2005. Audio Interview.
pratt.edu
Santoro,
Scott. "Charles Goslin" worksight.com |
