Don’t miss our annual roundup, where we introduce the top graphic designers of 2021 and 2022.
The professionals featured here have been handpicked by the Code Barcelona team. This is a fully curated list, created following our own selection criteria.
You’ll find both established names and emerging talents—creatives whose contributions to graphic design will stand the test of time, laying the groundwork for future projects and inspiring us all.
We hope you enjoy this article, which takes a more educational approach, and that you find value in the work we’ve gathered here for your reference and inspiration.
Here’s our list of the best graphic designers we’ll be exploring below.
- Neville Brody – a truly memorable graphic designer
- Coco Dávez – a self-taught creative setting new standards
- Michael Bierut – a heavyweight in graphic design
- Ixchel Estrada – graphic design and illustration
- Gail Anderson – the most iconic curls in global graphic design
- Jonathan Barnbrook – an invaluable graphic designer
- Elana Schlenker – unstoppable creative rise
- Peter Saville – the album covers that defined our lives
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Let’s dive right in and discover the top graphic designers of 2021–2022
Top Graphic Designers of 2021–2022
Paula Scher – Pop Culture and Fine Art with Enduring Impact
Paula Scher is one of the most influential graphic designers of recent decades.
With an extensive career that bridges pop culture and fine art, Paula is iconic, insightful, and approachable—her work has become part of the visual language of millions across the US.
Since 1990, she has been a partner at the renowned creative design studio Pentagram, one of the world’s most respected agencies.
Her portfolio includes brand and identity systems, promotional materials, environmental graphics, packaging design, and publications for a diverse range of clients.
Clients
Paula Scher has worked with:
- Bloomberg
- Microsoft
- Bausch + Lomb
- Coca-Cola
- Shake Shack
- Perry Ellis
- Museum of Modern Art
- Sundance Institute
- High Line
- Jazz at Lincoln Center
- Metropolitan Opera
- New York City Ballet
- New York Philharmonic
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- New 42nd Street
- New York Botanical Garden
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Robin Hood Foundation
- Department of Parks
- New York City Recreation
Awards:
- Inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame, 1998
- Chrysler Award for Innovation in Design, 2000
- Served on the national board of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
- President of the AIGA New York Chapter, 1998–2000
- Received the AIGA Medal, the profession’s highest honor, in 2001 for distinguished achievements and contributions
- Type Directors Club Medal, 2006—the first woman to receive this award
- Collab Design Excellence Award, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2012
- National Design Award for Communication Design, Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2013
- Named SEGD Fellow, 2019
- Member of Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI) since 1993; served as president from 2009 to 2012
Let’s take a look at some of her most notable projects, as well as interviews and videos where she shares her insights in her own words.
Neville Brody – a truly memorable graphic designer
Neville Brody is a renowned graphic designer specializing in digital design, typography, and brand identity.
With over three decades of experience, his work spans art direction for magazines, album cover design, visual identity, strategic systems, and type design for global brands.
Brody’s work is defined by his unique vision and relentless drive to push creative boundaries.
Clients
Neville Brody has worked with:
- Depeche Mode
- Cabaret Voltaire
- The Face
- Arena Magazine
- City Limits
- Pere Ubu
- BBC
- The Times
- Dom Pérignon
- Coca-Cola
- Samsung
- Christian Dior
Awards:
- Recipient of multiple awards in art, typography, and design
- Major contributor to FUSE, a leading publication on experimental typography
- Solo exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum
- D&AD President’s Award, 2011
Let’s explore his portfolio, interviews, and some of the most compelling work from this outstanding graphic designer.
