Remembering Frank Ariss, 1937-2014 November 12, 2014
His 1970s redesign of the Minneapolis Tribune is in the books.
Frank Ariss, long-time Twin Cities graphic designer and newspaper redesigner, died Monday, November 3, 2014. He was 76.
A doctoral graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, Ariss came to Minneapolis in 1966 as a visiting professor at the Minneapolis School of Art (now the Minneapolis College of Art and Design). While in town, Frank was asked by the Tribune to “freshen up” the paper’s logo. His holistic approach to design soon encompassed not only the logo, but also the design of the entire paper from front to back, and took into account the news gathering-to-print process: from reporters’ copy entry, linotype keyboarding, and layout of the front page to photo plate processing and delivery truck graphics. Ariss’ 1971 design is noted as a landmark in modern American newspaper design, the first of its kind on this continent. He went on to redesign the San Francisco Examiner, and consulted on a redesign of the Toronto Star.
Several years after the Tribune success, Ariss established an active design practice in Minneapolis that included work for local clients such as General Mills, The Guthrie Theater, and 3M, and national and international corporations including AT&T, Jaguar, and the BBC. Work spanned a broad spectrum from corporate reports, signage, exhibitions, greeting cards, and postage stamps—and even included product design for a shoe company.
View samples of his work here.
Post written by Bruce N. Wright, AIGA member, Education Committee member, and contributing writer for AIGA Minnesota.
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He started his own design studio, Oryx & Moth, doing branding, art direction and design for clients big and small. Meanwhile he was the chair of the Solopreneurs Committee for AIGA MN (2022-2023) and served on the Design Student & Alumni Board at the University of Minnesota (2010-2013). Prior to that he worked at TSG, a design agency in Robbinsdale, for clients including: Target, HealthPartners and Crate & Barrel. He's also had a short stint designing for financial institutions (PNC Bank, Citibank and BBVA Compass). He started out designing and art directing photo shoots for multiple national salon chains throughout the US and Canada. And has had mediocre hairstyles since.
His interests vary widely with the season but he always willing to chat about DIY projects, soccer, LEGO, minimalism, FIRE, AI, technology, saunas, traveling, camping, parenting, etc.