A typographer’s odd jobs

By Rebecca Mazzei

Oct 26, 2005 at 12:00 am

Audio By Carbonatix

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London-born artist Robert Brownjohn had a short but prolific career in Chicago and New York in the ’50s and ’60s as a photographer and self-taught freelance designer. His portfolio was all over the place; in addition to his experimental typography, he made his mark designing ads for Bachelor Cigarettes and Pepsi-Cola, as well as rock album covers, book jackets and exhibition posters. Before he died from a drug overdose at age 44 in 1970, Brownjohn created the iconic imagery in the titling sequences for James Bond flicks From Russia with Love and Goldfinger. Sex and Typography (Princeton Architectural Press, $45) includes detailed accounts of his personal and professional biography by those who knew the hard-partying, charismatic Brownjohn best.

Rebecca Mazzei is Metro Times arts editor. Send comments to [email protected]