Part of the MFA Design experience at SVA is the access to the design profession’s best practitioners. In October, the first-year students visited Pentagram, arguably one of the most prestigious design consultancies in the world, and spent the afternoon with Paula Scher, one of the partners.

Paula Scher is a pioneering American graphic designer renowned for her innovative use of typography and impactful visual identities. As a partner at Pentagram since 1991, she has crafted iconic designs for institutions such as The Public Theater, Citibank, and Tiffany & Co., significantly influencing contemporary design aesthetics. Scher is featured in “Abstract: The Art of Design,” the Netflix documentary series about leading figures in design and architecture.

Paula’s collaborative approach was something that stood out. Even though each partner at Pentagram has creative independence, they often work together, bringing in other designers with different strengths to create stronger results. This inspires me to bring more media into my work that serves to strengthen identities. —Youmin Choi (Class of 2026)

One thing I was impressed by was that she’s never afraid to challenge traditional norms and has always stayed true to her design intentions and philosophy. —Ying Ying (Class of 2026)