Rick Cusick
Encyclopedia
Rick Cusick is a lettering artist, calligrapher, type designer and book designer.
He began his lettering career designing illuminated signs for Ad/Art, Inc. in his hometown of Stockton, California, followed by study at Art Center College of Design
in Los Angeles where lettering artist Mortimer Leach was among his teachers. Since 1971 he has worked in lettering and typographic design and as a book designer for Hallmark Cards
, in Kansas City, Missouri. He has designed books, journals, posters, brochures, packaging, logos, cards, giftwrap and fonts. As a lettering studio manager, his duties include overseeing font development. He has designed several proprietary typefaces for Hallmark that are used on a range of products such as greeting cards, books, films and packaging.
Cusick also freelances calligraphy, lettering and design projects and has done a wide variety of work: from Las Vegas signage to a 17 ' long biblical quotation for the Community of Christ's headquarters, Independence Temple, designed by the renowned architect, Gyo Obata
.
Nyx is an Adobe Original stencil font created by Cusick and released by Adobe Systems
in 1997. It is named after Cusick's muse, Nyx
, the Greek goddess of night.
From 1984 to 1990 he taught typography and publication design at the University of Kansas
. He has taught numerous workshops worldwide, including a five-day workshop for the Schreibwerkstatt in Offenbach, Germany. He has lectured at Kansas City Art Institute, Indiana Central University, Art Directors Club of El Paso, New York Society of Scribes, Los Angeles Society for Calligraphy, TypeCon 2003 and more.
Cusick has judged numerous lettering and type contests, including TDC2, 2005 type design contest.
Publications
Cusick has compiled, edited and designed numerous books including two books about prominent twentieth century American calligraphers: With Respect...To RFD, an appreciation of Raymond F. DaBoll; and Straight Impressions, essays and calligraphy by Lloyd Reynolds. The Proverbial Bestiary, features proverbs hand-lettered by Cusick and paired with drawings by the late Warren Chappell
, which was a Book of the Month Club bonus selection. Cusick was art director of Letter Arts Review from 1992 -2003. He has designed numerous books for various publishers including Andrews & McMeel, American Century, Harrow Books and City of Fountain Foundation.
His work has appeared in numerous books and periodicals including: Communication Arts, Typography 6, Calligraphy Today, Typography 18, Visible Language, Signs of the Times, Alphabet, International Calligraphy Today, Fine Print, and Letter Arts Review. He has written articles for Fine Print, Calligraphy Review, Alphabet, ABC-XYZapf, and Calligraphic Type Design in the Digital Age.
Cusick is proprietor of Nyx Editions which has created a range of books and pamphlets regarding the lettering arts including OK, It's All Yours: Recollections of Arnold Bank, and Type Fa*ce*tious: Earth-shattering quotations featuring the font designs of Jill Bell
.
Exhibitions
Cusick's work has appeared in numerous group shows in museums and gallerys world wide including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, London, New Delhi, Offenbach, Tallinn and Moscow.
One-Man Shows:
He began his lettering career designing illuminated signs for Ad/Art, Inc. in his hometown of Stockton, California, followed by study at Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
in Los Angeles where lettering artist Mortimer Leach was among his teachers. Since 1971 he has worked in lettering and typographic design and as a book designer for Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
, in Kansas City, Missouri. He has designed books, journals, posters, brochures, packaging, logos, cards, giftwrap and fonts. As a lettering studio manager, his duties include overseeing font development. He has designed several proprietary typefaces for Hallmark that are used on a range of products such as greeting cards, books, films and packaging.
Cusick also freelances calligraphy, lettering and design projects and has done a wide variety of work: from Las Vegas signage to a 17 ' long biblical quotation for the Community of Christ's headquarters, Independence Temple, designed by the renowned architect, Gyo Obata
Gyo Obata
Gyo Obata is a significant American architect, the son of renowned painter Chiura Obata and his wife, Haruko Obata, a floral designer. In 1955, he co-founded global architectural firm HOK . He lives in St. Louis, Missouri and still works in HOK's St. Louis office...
.
Nyx is an Adobe Original stencil font created by Cusick and released by Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated is an American computer software company founded in 1982 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States...
in 1997. It is named after Cusick's muse, Nyx
Nyx
In Greek mythology, Nyx was the primordial goddess of the night. A shadowy figure, Nyx stood at or near the beginning of creation, and was the mother of personified gods such as Hypnos and Thánatos...
, the Greek goddess of night.
From 1984 to 1990 he taught typography and publication design at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He has taught numerous workshops worldwide, including a five-day workshop for the Schreibwerkstatt in Offenbach, Germany. He has lectured at Kansas City Art Institute, Indiana Central University, Art Directors Club of El Paso, New York Society of Scribes, Los Angeles Society for Calligraphy, TypeCon 2003 and more.
Cusick has judged numerous lettering and type contests, including TDC2, 2005 type design contest.
Publications
Cusick has compiled, edited and designed numerous books including two books about prominent twentieth century American calligraphers: With Respect...To RFD, an appreciation of Raymond F. DaBoll; and Straight Impressions, essays and calligraphy by Lloyd Reynolds. The Proverbial Bestiary, features proverbs hand-lettered by Cusick and paired with drawings by the late Warren Chappell
Warren Chappell
Warren Chappell was an American illustrator, book and type designer, and author.-Education:...
, which was a Book of the Month Club bonus selection. Cusick was art director of Letter Arts Review from 1992 -2003. He has designed numerous books for various publishers including Andrews & McMeel, American Century, Harrow Books and City of Fountain Foundation.
His work has appeared in numerous books and periodicals including: Communication Arts, Typography 6, Calligraphy Today, Typography 18, Visible Language, Signs of the Times, Alphabet, International Calligraphy Today, Fine Print, and Letter Arts Review. He has written articles for Fine Print, Calligraphy Review, Alphabet, ABC-XYZapf, and Calligraphic Type Design in the Digital Age.
Cusick is proprietor of Nyx Editions which has created a range of books and pamphlets regarding the lettering arts including OK, It's All Yours: Recollections of Arnold Bank, and Type Fa*ce*tious: Earth-shattering quotations featuring the font designs of Jill Bell
Jill Bell
Jill Bell is a lettering artist, calligrapher and type designer.A graduate of UCLA and Otis/Parsons, Bell is a graphic artist who creates custom lettering, logotypes, titles, fonts and handwriting for advertising, entertainment, packaging, and publishing. Before establishing herself as a freelance...
.
Exhibitions
Cusick's work has appeared in numerous group shows in museums and gallerys world wide including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, London, New Delhi, Offenbach, Tallinn and Moscow.
One-Man Shows:
- 1987 Miscellanea: Lettering and Graphic Design by Rick Cusick. Appleman Gallery, London
- 1991 TLC: Typography/Lettering/Calligraphy. Mettier Gallery, Weston, Missouri
- 1995 Quiet Passion, A twenty-five year retrospective of design, lettering and calligraphy. San Fransciso Public Library Special Collections Department. Exhibit traveled to Wichita State University, the Hallmark Creative Resource Gallery and to Columbus College of Art and Design.