Stephen Heller (born 1950) is one of the most prominent American graphic design writers, critics, and researchers. His work has made a significant contribution to the popularization and understanding of design, typography, illustration, and visual culture.
Heller began his career as an art director at the New York Times, where he worked for over 30 years. He was the creative director on many projects and led the visual department of the New York Times Book Review, significantly influencing the style and format of the publication.
Stephen has authored and co-authored over 200 books covering design history, typography, advertising, illustration and contemporary graphic culture. His most famous works include Typography Sketchbooks, Graphic Style: From Victorian to New Century and Design Literacy. His books are frequently used as teaching aids in creative education institutions around the world.
In addition to writing, Heller is a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, where he directs the Master of Design program. He is also the co-founder of many design initiatives, such as the Typographics conference and the HOW Design Live design festival.
Heller has received numerous awards, including the AIGA Medal for Achievement in Design, one of the most prestigious honors in the industry.
