Notes on Icons and Design with Susan Kare

This talk includes illustrations and stories about solving various design problems for clients over the years, from Apple to Pinterest. Although the projects are specific, and often feature icons and symbols, the thought processes and methods are applicable in many situations.
Letterform Lectures are a public aspect of the Type West postgraduate program. The series is co-presented by the San Francisco Public Library where events are free and open to all. We encourage registration, but it is not required to attend and no tickets are checked at the door.
About Susan Kare
Susan Kare received MA and Ph.D. degrees in fine art from New York University. In 1983 she began her career at Apple, Inc. designing the screen graphics and digital fonts for the original Macintosh. From the paint bucket and trash icons to the crash bomb and smiling Mac, her concise and charming visuals made computer interfaces more humane, and many of her metaphors are still used throughout the industry today. Kare went on to design for NeXT, Microsoft, Facebook, Wired, and many others. She was awarded an AIGA Medal in 2018 and her work is part of the permanent collections of MoMA and SFMOMA. Susan is currently a creative director at Pinterest and a member of Letterform Archive’s Board of Directors.

[@Bulldog1878]

I wonder if Susan knows in 2020 she became an unintentional ASMR icon from her video demonstration of MAC from 1984. Such a smart, amazing, astonishing lady.

[@_MomtallicA_]

That's where I just came from! This vid was next in my thread 😆😊😊😊

[@andreschapero3615]

@@_MomtallicA_ same here haha.... andres from santiago, chile

[@thedukeofholland3926]

She still has the (ASMR) skills.

[@JonnyBlueChair]

I've come directly from that!

[@ergosteur]

Wonderful insights into so many design concepts we completely take for granted today. It’s easy to forget that not that long ago, people like Susan had to figure all these things out for the first time - and today they’re universal.

[@vxsniffer]

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Airman's Odyssey 🙂

[@Protoman00]

It's the lady from Computer Chronicles interview!

[@hossfrombonanza]

Thank YT to get me know her talent, her humility and her humour. She’s been an idol to me as much as for newgenerations could be a female pop star. Susan, you are so lovely!

[@mfiorentino]

This is very insightful, and despite her somewhat self-effacing nature, she speaks volumes regarding how to think of design. I especially like her thoughts regarding understanding the happy Mac and how simplicity creates universality. This is food for thought regarding how we communicate today.

[@shadowrunner]

Does anyone else watch her ASMR video when she uses the Mac in the 80s.. Just me? OK

[@deancox8634]

I saw it. She's great now and was great then.

[@bgangler877]

Over and over. Wish it was longer lol

[@BankaiD3]

we probably all do who watched this vid. let's be honest, we all wanted to see if she has more stuff like that old video lol.

[@itsokthen]

I did not expect to watch the whole thing but this was really enjoyable

[@BankaiD3]

same, it's not like the 1984 demo but i still enjoyed watching the whole thing

[@cciccone61]

Why do I love this person?

[@miguelmontoya]

You are my hero Susan, you are super cute just like your art!

[@tomwalkingstick5395]

So incredibly interesting

[@sauryashrestha2046]

I knew her from an Unintentional ASMR video

[@wonderweedo]

She is so .... im falling in love

[@perpetualwinner]

She was a little calmer on Computer Chronicles. But her voice is still pretty nice.

[@larkefedifero]

Well, not as deep and sexy and phony as Elizabeth Holmes (of Theranos) trying to imitate Steve Jobs, her idol, but hey - whose voice is?!?! She also lacks that paranoid, sociopathic look that Holmes had, which I also have to mark her down for... 😡 😵 😝

[@Redstripe921]

Yeah but there was only 3 ppl with her there, here its a whole audience.

[@trieshardgaming]

I appreciate how she's talking about something on the screen, but we don't see the slide she's talking about.

[@SomeUnremarkableGuy]

Too bad it wasn't called Francisco Sans :D

[@dickenscider9178]

Her mannerisms are so unique...

[@keleniengaluafe2600]

❤❤❤❤

[@irenebolanos7915]

Can anybody refer to the book she refers to when she answers the question about inclusivity?

[@Diegogr08]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@donaldpump3072]

She is still cute

[@perfectionbox]

🥰

[@katherandefy]

😎

[@warbwarb]

What a babe