BRIDGE
WARBY PARKER x NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM Spring 2019
WARBY PARKER x NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
AN EXCITING COLLABORATION Warby Parker is launching an
The Bridge Collection was
artist inspired collection called
inspired by the anatomy of
The Bridge Collection.
glasses. The two lenses are
Our Spring collection glasses
joined together at the bridge;
will be named after significant
the piece in the middle of the
artists of the mid-century modern
frame. This is a metaphor to the
style. Artists such as;
bridge between Warby Parker
George Lois, Alex Steinweiss,
and The New Britain Museum of
and Herbert Matter.
American Art.
Warby Parker is partnering with The New Britain Museum of American Art to support their mid-century modern artists upcoming exhibition. This exhibition will feature the artist’s exclusive works. A portion of the proceeds from the Bridge Collection glasses will help support the mid-century modern art exhibition.
2
Table of Contents
The Brownjohn
34
The Thompson
40
The Lois
2 10
The Lustig
16
The Beall
46
The Steinweiss
22
The Nitsche
52
The Matter
28
The Eames
58
The Partnership
4
WARBY PARKER
Every idea starts with a problem.
We started Warby Parker
Ours was simple: glasses are too
to create an alternative.
expensive. We were students
By circumventing traditional
when one of us lost his glasses
channels, designing glasses
on a backpacking trip. The cost of
in-house, and engaging with
replacing them was so high that
customers directly, we’re able to
he spent the first semester of grad
provide higher-quality, better-
school without them, squinting and
looking prescription eyewear
complaining. (We don’t recommend
at a fraction of the going price.
this). The rest of us had similar
We believe that buying glasses
experiences, and we were amazed
should be easy and fun. It should
at how hard it was to find a pair
leave you happy and good-
of great frames that didn’t leave
looking, with money in your
our wallets bare. Where were the
pocket. We also believe that
options? It turns out there was a
everyone has the right to see.
simple explanation. The eyewear industry is dominated by a single company that has been able to keep prices artificially high while reaping huge profits from consumers who have no other options.
NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
The New Britain Museum of
and the Ash Can School (not
American Art’s founding in 1903
to mention the important mural
entitles the institution to be
series The Arts of Life in
designated the first museum of
America by Thomas Hart Benton)
strictly American art in the country.
the museum relies heavily on
That year, a $20,000 gift of gold
its permanent collection for
bonds to the museum’s former
exhibitions and programming,
parent, the New Britain Institute,
yet also displays a significant
from industrialist John Butler
number of borrowed shows
Talcott, created funds to
and work by emerging artists.
purchase "modern oil paintings."
The singular focus on American
Subsequent purchases, with advice
art and its panoramic view of
from New York museums and
American artistic achievement
galleries, fur ther defined "modern"
make the New Britain Museum
to mean American works of art,
of American Art a significant
now numbering more than 8,300.
teaching resource available
With particular strengths in colonial portraiture, the Hudson River
to the local, regional, and national public.
School, American Impressionism, 6
THE BRIDGE COLLECTION SPRING 2019
9
THE LOIS
10
THE LOIS Inspired by our original collection of The Lois glasses, known for the rounded edges, and unique bridge just like Lois unique Esquire covers.
In 1959 Lois began working at
While he is one of the most
the advertising agency that would
successful creative advertisers of
give birth to big idea thinking and
the 20th centuries, George Lois is
the revolution of the advertising
quick to recognize his upbringing.
industry, Doyle Dane Bernbach
Born to a hard working Greek
(DDB). Not a huge fan of the
family, Lois grew up in the Bronx
current state of the advertising
where he started working in his
world, he has proclaimed that
fathers flower shop at the age of
advertising is an art and not a
5. His early career brought him in
science and that only mediocre
contact with the CBS Advertising
ideas need testing.
department, Sudler and Hennessy
While his career has afforded him many successes it is undoubtedly his covers for Esquire that are most recognized. Throughout the 1960s and 70s Lois worked with editor Harold Hayes to create covers for the magazine that effectively represented some of the most notable ideas of their time.
and Herb Lubalin and he would probably be the first person to admit that he owes them a debt of gratitude saying "People who don't think they owe something to somebody are crazy." Wherever it is that he came from, he has left his mark on the advertising world through his successful work for Mtv, VH1, Esquire, ESPN, Tommy Hilfiger and USA Today.
People who don't think they owe something to somebody are crazy. george lois
12
LEAVE YOUR MARK A trim updated of an old stalwart, Lois is a bookish, modern classic. A Tortoise Shell $100 GL1024 B Clear $100 GL1025
A
B
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
14
THE LUSTIG
16
THE LUSTIG Inspired by our original collection of The Lustig glasses, the frames are a nod to the geometric shapes used by Lustig.
A student of Frank Lloyd Wright,
He rose to success early in his
among others, Alvin Lustig
career garnering work for all
had a very successful career in
types of clients and working on a
graphic design and art direction.
vast array of types of projects.
Revolutionizing the approach to
He died much too early at the
book cover design in the 1940s,
age of 40, in 1955. His simplified
Lustig would attempt to get a
shapes and use of flat colors,
sense of the writer's direction
all while creating elaborate and
from reading the book and then
intensely interesting compositions,
translate it into his own graphic
are still imitated today by many
style (The previous trend was
graphic designers.
to summarize the book with one image). The combination of technology and creativity in his designs was reminiscent of the Bauhaus, as did his intellectual approach to problem-solving. He designed books in LA for
While particularly admired for his book jacket designs, Lustig designed many other items, including invitations for the several Beverly Hills High School Commencements.
New Directions before moving to New York to become the Director of Visual Research for Look Magazine.
I make solutions that nobody wants to problems that don't exist. alvin lustig
18
FUN AND ADAPTABLE Lustig’s steel silhouette balances soft curves with angular edges while adjustable nose pads enhance the comfort level. A Silver Metal $100 AL2084 B Blue Metal $100 AL2085 C Gold Metal $100 AL2086 B
C
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
20
THE STEINWEISS
22
THE STEINWEISS Inspired by our original collection of The Steinweiss glasses, mimic the slick record player covers he designed.
Alex Steinweiss has a massive
His idea to create artwork to
body of design work that
entice the buyer to purchase the
spans several different media.
album was an instant success.
Some of his clients have
From 1939 to 1945 he designed
included the U.S. Navy, PRINT,
record covers for Columbia,
Fortune and Columbia Records.
during which time he turned out
However, he is most recognized
hundreds of distinct designs.
for inventing the modern album
After 1945 he began working for
cover and much of his work lies
other clients including several
in the poster-like images that
other record companies and
he created while he was an art
in 1974 he retired to Florida to
director at Columbia Records.
paint and work on occasional
Before Steinweiss the only album
commissioned pieces.
covers that existed were brown paper wrappers that served to protect the album you had just purchased.
It was ridiculous that beautiful music was in an empty piece of cardboard. alex steinweiss
24
DOWN TO BUSINESS Steinweiss is a down-to-business rectangular frame with a lean, nearly flat browline. It’s sleek as can be. A Tortoise Shell $100 AS6817 B Black $100 AS6818
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
26
THE MATTER
HERBERT MATTER
THE MATTER Inspired by our original collection of The Matter glasses, his photomantages inspired this two toned and compressed style.
Herbert Matter worked with
His design work of ten favored
a number of famous designers
a heavy use of photography.
and famous artists during his
His most recognizable works
career including Fernand LĂŠger,
are the posters he created for
Le Courbusier, Charles and Ray
the Swiss Tourist Office, but his
Eames, Derberny and Peignot,
photography work for Harper’s
A.M. Cassandre and Alexey
Bazaar, under the direction of
Brodovitch. Matter was a
Brodovitch, is equally impressive.
master of using photomontage,
A master in his profession,
color and typography in
he began teaching photography
an expressive manner,
and design at Yale in 1952.
transcending the boundaries
He continued to teach and work,
between art and design.
notable work from his later career includes the identity design for the New Haven Railroad, until he died in 1984.
If you love something, the work will be just fine. herbert matter
30
DOUBLE THE COLOR Slightly narrower with a sloped rectangular shape, Matter is as flattering as it is wearable. A Double Color $100 HM8175
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
32
THE BROWNJOHN
THE BROWNJOHN Inspired by our original collection of The Brownjohn glasses, these glasses are bold with a swooping brow line.
Brownjohn was born to British
with his most notable
parents in New Jersey and had
contributions coming in the
a successful career in both
firm industry. He also worked
America and Great Britain
within several other industries,
during the 1950s and 60s.
creating moving graphics for Pirelli
He immediately showed promise
and Midland bank and created
as a young design student at the
the cover for the Rolling Stones
Institute of Design in Chicago,
album Let It Bleed. A 240 page
previously The New Bauhaus,
catalogue by Emily King that
where he studied closely with
was produced for an exhibition
Laszlo Moholy-Nagu. His career
detailing Brownjohn’s career
ramped up to an early start when
entitled Robert Brownjohn:  
he formed the design firm BCG
Sex and Typography held at the
with Ivan Chermayeff and Thomas
Design Museum in London was
Geismar.
also published as a book of the
However, that career came to an early end in 1959 with Brownjohn heading to London, the firm became Chermaveff & Geismar. His career in London proved as successful as his early career in the US,
same name. Sex and Typography details the adventures of Brownjohn through detailed information provided by friends and family as well as chronicling his career and the work that he produced.
Architectire is the greatest catalyst in design. robert brownjohn
36
CLASSY AND CONFIDENT Brownjohn’s classic round shape has instant appeal, but a second glance reveals even more. A Red Marble $100 RB1825 B Clear $100 RB1526 C Blue $100 RB1527
A
B
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
38
THE THOMPSON
THE THOMPSON Inspired by our original collection of The Thompson glasses, these will bring you confidence in everything you do.
Bradbury Thompson was truly
The book was the most significant
a master of almost every aspect
development in Bible typography
of the design profession.
since Gutenberg first published
Thompson studied printing
his masterpiece in 1455.
production, was an art director
Another significant point in his
for Mademoiselle magazing,
career, in the field of typography,
designed books, pushed the
was his publication of Alphabet
boundaries of conventional
26, which was labeled as a
typography and taught design at
monoalphabet. It contained only
Yale University. He designed 60+
26 unique characters, case was
issues of Westvaco Inspirations
established by size only instead
for the Westvaco Paper
of entirely new characters (i.e.
Corporation. His designs reached
r/R, e/E, a/A). Thompson’s work
thousands of designers,
garnered him the highest award
printers and typographers.
of every major design organization
Born in 1911 in Topeka, Kansas and educated at Washburn University Thompson stayed in touch with
including AIGA, the Art Directors Club and the Type Directors Club. He died in 1955.
the university throughout his career. From 1969-1979 Thompson worked together with Washburn to create the Washburn Bible.
Type can be a tool, a toy, and a teacher. bradbury thompson
42
THROWBACK ALL DAY Thompson is technically an aviator although its smooth edges and pressed detailing along the eyewire and nose bridge might tell you otherwise. A Navy Blue Metal $100 BT5187 B Gold Metal $100 BT5188
B
A
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
44
THE BEALL
46
THE BEALL Inspired by our original collection of The Beall glasses, the simplistic black edges stand out just like they do in his artwork.
A man with a very technology-
His clear and concise use of
oriented background, Beall grew
typography was highly praised
up playing with Ham radios and
both in the United States and
creating his own wireless sets.
abroad. Throughout his career
He graduated with a Ph.D in the
he used bold primary colors and
History of Fine Art and the years
illustrative arrows and lines in a
following his graduation found
graphic style that became easily
him expressing an interest in
recognizable as his own. He
modern art movements such as
eventually moved to rural New
Surrealism, Constructivism and
York and set up an office,
Dadaism.
and home, at a premises that he
His work as an advertiser and graphic designer quickly gained international recognition and
and his family called “Dumbarton Farm�. He remained at the farm until his death in 1969.
the most productive years of his career, during the 1930s and 40s, saw many successes in both fields.
The moment clients realize that revisions are not an all-you-caneat-buffett, suddenly they realize they are not hungry. lester beall
48
CLEAR AND CONCISE Beall’s flat brow makes it perfect for modernists, 1980’S retrofuturists, and anyone who loves a clean line. A Black $100 LB6145 B Tortoise Shell $100 LB6145
B
A
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
50
THE NITSCHE
52
THE NITSCHE Inspired by our original collection of The Nitsche glasses, the exposed metal frames compliment his methodical line work.
Erik Nitsche left an unmistakable
His work has a distinctly
mark on the world of design
modernist aesthetic and although
in his approximately 60 year
he never had the opportunity
career. Leaving almost no field
to attend the Bauhaus Laszlo
untouched, he worked as an art
Moholy-Nagy has been quoted
director, book designer and
as saying, “Who is this guy that
illustrator and typographer,
is doing the Bauhaus in New
graphic designer and
York?� He designed promotional
photographer and advertiser
and advertising campaigns for a
and packaging designer.
host of different clients including
His graphic design work
department stores and feature
included magazine covers,
films and record companies and
signage, f ilm and exhibitions,
the New York Transit Authority.
posters and many other
Nitsche greatly influenced the
advertising mediums.
young generation of designers
Before emigrating to the United
in America in the mid-20th
States in 1934 Nitsche studied
century including the legendary
at the Collège Classique
designers Walter Bernard and
in Switzerland and the
Seymour Chwast.
Kunstgewerbeschule in Munich.
Do the work, not talk about it. erik nitsche
54
A
LIGHT AS A FEATHER Going for an unmistakably midcentury look? Ta da: Nitsche pairs in ultra light stainless steel construction with an adaptable acetate overlay. A Black $100 EN9761 B Gold Metal $100 EN9762 C Tortoise Shell $100 EN9763 D Silver$100 EN9764
B C
D
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
56
THE EAMES
58
THE EAMES Inspired by our original collection of The Eames glasses, these (much like the Eamses' use of plywood) are malleable to any style.
The Eameses are best known
Their molded plywood chair was
for their groundbreaking
called the chair of the century by
contributions to architecture,
the influential architectural critic
furniture design, industrial design
Esther McCoy.  
and manufacturing, and the photographic ar ts. Charles and
In 1949, Charles and Ray
Ray married in 1941 and moved to
designed and built their own
California where they continued
home in Pacific Palisades,
their furniture design work with
California as part of the Case
molding plywood.
Study House Program sponsored
During World War II they were commissioned by the United States Navy to produce molded ply wood splints, stretchers, and experimental glider shells. In 1946, Evans Products began producing the Eameses’ molded plywood furniture.
by Arts & Architecture magazine. Their design and innovative use of materials made the House a mecca for architects and designers from both near and far. Today, it is considered one of the most important post-war residences anywhere in the world.
It is not easy to do something good, it is extremely difficult to do something bad. charles eames
60
SEE RIGHT THROUGH Eames round lenses and roomy fit make a sharp first impression. Its available in extra wide too. A Clear $100 CR2607 B Tortoise Shell $100 CR2608
A
B
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
62
Because every frame deserves a house and a home foldable geometric case
888.492.7297 | warbyparker.com
65
The perfect case for the perfect pair of glasses, just for you.
E V E RYON E
gets a
LOOK Come see these Mid-Century Modern artists' work at The New Britain Museum of American Art.
Saturday, March 11, 2019
WARBY PARKER x NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$10 OFF Exhibition Admission nbmaa.org 56 Lexington Street New Britain, CT
Now through June 21. Present this card at museum or use code online
MIDCMDRN71 at nbmaa.org
A584375B This promo code can be used at any time from now to June 21. There are no restrictions on when you can use this discount. This is a one time use, one discount per coupon.
69
CREDITS
Cover
Alex Steinweiss
Herbert Matter
Image URL: warbyparker.com
Image URL: loc.gov
Image URL: coralhnd.wordpress.com
Image URL: npr.org
Image URL: flickr.com
Quote: designishistory.com
Quote: quotefancy.com
Warby Parker
George Lois
Robert Brownjohn
Image URL: warbyparker.com
Image URL: designersjournal.net
Image URL: robertbrownjohn.com
Quote: nbmaa.org
Image URL: esquire.com
Image URL: robertbrownjohn.com
Quote: designishistory.com
Quote: robertbrownjohn.com
NBMOAA
Lester Beall
Bradbury Thompson
Image URL: nbmaa.org
Image URL: aiga.org
Image URL: aiga.org
Quote: nbmaa.org
Image URL: eyeondesign.aiga.org
Image URL: library.rit.edu
Quote: designishistory.com
Quote: aiga.org
The Bridge Collection
Erik Nitsche
Charles and Ray Eames
Image URL: warbyparker.com
Image URL: medium.com
Image URL: beoriginalamericas.com
Image URL: pinterest.com
Image URL: blog.mam.org
Quote: designishistory.com
Quote: brainyquote.com
The Partnership
Alvin Lustig
Image URL: warbyparker.com
Image URL: lustighouse.com
Image URL: nbmaa.org
Image URL: etsy.com Quote: quotesondesign.com
Megan Adams collected images
Meredith Guio created the Ray and
Austin Rusher collected images for
for the spreads. She created the
Charles Eames, Robert Brownjohn,
Alvin Lustig, Herbert Matter, and Erik
George Lois, Lester Beall,
and Bradbury Thompson spreads.
Nitsche spreads. He also designed
and Alex Steinweiss spreads.
She collected images for the
all the illustrations to glasses style
She also designed the introduction
glasses. She also designed the table
spreads, the design of the coupon
to the glasses style spreads, the
of contents, the partnership page,
insert, and credits spread.
cover, the partnership, the Warby
the Warby Parker, the NBMOAA
Austin's illustrations brought
Parker and the NBMOAA spreads.
spreads, and the back cover.
the magazine to life!
She designed the case spreads
Meredith was the master typesetter!
and the campaign ad. Megan also designed the layout in a fabulous manner!
70
WARBY PARKER 233 Spring Street East, New York, NY 10013 888.492.7297 warbyparker.com
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID WARBY PARKER
Warby Parker takes its commitment to the protection of our environment seriously, and we appreciate that our customers do as well. This catalog has been printed on paper certified to contain fiber from a wellmanaged forest.
or current resident
TIMOTHY P SPEAKER 276 AGNEW ROAD GREENVILLE SC 29609-3452
Now that we've been to your home, we'd love it if you'd come visit ours