Philip B. Meggs an American graphic designer, professor, historian and author. Born, on May 30, 1942 in Newberry, South Carolina a twin to a brother, William Joel Meggs. At sixteen he practiced metal type and enjoyed drawing and painting. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and an honorary doctorate from Massachusetts College of Art. Married in 1964 to Libby Phillips an art director and illustrator. They had two children Andrew and Elizabeth.
He has been called the most important historian of design since Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-1983). He was one of the first educators to create an overview of the history of graphic design and did not depend exclusively on the traditional structure of the history of the art.
After college, he worker as a senior designer at Reynolds Metals and then art director at A.H. Robins Pharmaceuticals. In 1968, he began teaching in the Communication Arts and Design Department at Virgina Commonwealth University, chairing the department from 1974 to 1987. In addition to teaching he served as visiting faculty at Syracuse University and the Nation College of Art and Design, Dublin. Inspired by the lack of research and instructive design materials on the history, theory and creative methods, that's when he decided to teach about the history of graphic design. Leading him to write his first book, A History of Graphic Design.
He has been called the most important historian of design since Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-1983). He was one of the first educators to create an overview of the history of graphic design and did not depend exclusively on the traditional structure of the history of the art.
After college, he worker as a senior designer at Reynolds Metals and then art director at A.H. Robins Pharmaceuticals. In 1968, he began teaching in the Communication Arts and Design Department at Virgina Commonwealth University, chairing the department from 1974 to 1987. In addition to teaching he served as visiting faculty at Syracuse University and the Nation College of Art and Design, Dublin. Inspired by the lack of research and instructive design materials on the history, theory and creative methods, that's when he decided to teach about the history of graphic design. Leading him to write his first book, A History of Graphic Design.
His textbook on the history of graphic design remains the best and standard text. It is still in print. Well done, Vanessa....
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