Title Sequence DesignerSaul Bass

‘I want everything we do to be beautiful. I don’t give a damn whether the client understands that that’s worth anything, or that the client thinks it’s worth anything, or whether it is worth anything. Its worth it to me. It’s the way I want to live my life. I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares’

- Saul Bass

Information

• American graphic designer

• famous for his work in films and classic logo designs

• Renounced for his use of simple geometric shapes and their symbolism

• Often a single dominant image stands alone to deliver a powerful message

Early life

• Born May 8, 1920 in NYC

• Studied design at the Arts Student League in Manhattan

• Multiple apprenticeships with Manhattan design firms

• Freelance graphic designer

Bass’s technique of working

• Bass posters had an uncanny ability to capture mood of films with shapes and images.

• To him this was a preferred method then using ‘boring’ actor photographs

• Uses shapes as well as types

• Often hand drawn to create a casual appearance.

Collaborations

• Bass has done many collaborations including Hitchcock, Kubrick and Scorsese.

• If it wasn’t for these directors, he would not of go on design film posters, animate or directs title sequences for over 60 motion pictures.

Bass’s Revolution

• Revolutionised the way that people viewed title sequences by using the time not just the display the information but to give a short visual metaphor/ story that intrigues the viewer

• This is often the synopsis or references the movie itself.

The Man With The Golden Arm

• Titles of Spiny, cut-out projectiles

• Veins and syringes that manages to beDisconcerting

• Lines proliferate jab at awkward angles

• Titles of film penned in by four of these lines, suggest forces hemming in

• Bent/ tortured appendage reaching out or redemption or a fix.

Influence

• Saul bass work influence hundreds of graphic designers which transformed the ordinary title sequences into an art or it self.

Monster INC

• One title sequence which has been influenced by bass is Monsters INC. which used the idea of lines and shapes to create a title sequence which bases around a loose synopsis of the film. However while they are similar, this sequence is more sophisticated the bass’s with the uses of colour, lettering and animation.