Steven Heller, the grandee of design criticism, author of over 100 books on design and popular culture, co-chair of the MFA Designer as Author Department at School of Visual Arts, art director (for 30 years) of the New York Times Book Review, and one of the founders of American Illustration, brings the story of this highly focused organization to light in a piece in yesterday's issue of The Atlantic online.

In his article, which is written for a general audience in a way that promotes visual literacy as integral to the reading experience, Steve brings to light some of the more ephemeral aspects of illustration and why it continues to be integral to the communication arts. “Illustrations have had as much emotional consequence as some venerated canvases, and as social or political commentary some illustrations have even shaped mass perception,” he writes.

“New digital magazines...do not seem to value illustration as much as the old print venues (though The Atlantic historically has been a showcase for innovative illustration). Yet with such a critical mass of beautifully conceived, smartly executed, and skillfully printed work, the current American Illustration annual suggests an illustration renaissance may be in the offing. If not, then it is a vivid reminder that there are a lot of talented illustrators looking for work.” [Read the full text.]

For illustrators looking for more ways to make their ideas visible, there’s still time to be in the running for a place in the next volume of American Illustration. The deadline is March 2 and you can enter here.

To learn more about Steve Heller and his thoughts on design in the world at large, read my exclusive interview with him in DART; and a recent feature on his latest book, Typography Sketchbooks. Above: Cover art for AI30 (detail) by Olimpia Zagnoli. Designed by Nicholas Blechman and Naomi Mizusaki.

You can still get into the drawing for DART’s February Book Prize Contest – the deadline has been extended to midnight, Monday, February 27th. Two winners will be chosen in a random drawing to receive a copy of American Illustration 30 or American Photography 27.

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