Roger Black grew up in west Texas and attended the University of Chicago in the 60’s. He first got into underground publications and became a designer. He then moved to another underground newspaper in LA. Later on, he proceeded to the ‘Rolling Stones’ magazine and became the art director of the famous celebrity gossip magazine. He joined New York Magazine, then The New York Times and later to Newsweek.

His artwork includes 3 main colours: Black, white and red. He’s actually famous for the use of his colours which shows his complexity by using simplicity. Some people, although, still criticise him of his limited use of colour. But he prefers it this way. Black says that the ‘White’ is for the background, the ‘Black’ is the stroke of the images and the ‘Red’ is the heading’s emphasis.

When the new Macintosh came (In the 80’s) Black used the technology and created his design. Later Photoshop came and now the program is essential to his every piece of work. His most important tool is his studio. He has a small studio but who needs a big one? As long as you work for big companies and gives you good payment.

He works with Danilo Black (A design company both in the U.S. and Mexico) and The Font Bureau. Throughout his career, he’s close to 2 designers: David Berlow and Jim Parkinson. Parkinson helped him design logos. Berlow and Black used to work on a presentation. Their works created the Font Bureau.

David Berlow

Jim Parkinson

Roger Black redesigned a lot of magazines both in and out from the fonts, fonts composition, colours, the magazine’s cover and whatever is needed to design in and out .

He also design websites, but he’s famous from redesigning famous magazines and newspapers: Newsweek, Rolling Stones, Las Angeles Times, Reader’s Digest, The Washington Times, The New York Times, Esquire and many more……

The Los Angeles Times

Newsweek

The Reader’s Digest

redesigned logo

Esquire

The Washington Times

The New York Times

He’s a very creative man, he used only three colours in most of his work and he created it in unlimited styles using only limited colours. His works are very solid and bold, clear and simple. It’s not that beautiful but it’s modern and stylish. The compositions in his works are well balanced. But we really want to see new colours in his new designs and it would be perfect.

The new English study logo!!! (Which Roger Black might redesign)

Jeena No.27Mook No.28

M.5/12