Noma Bar

Noma Bar
Bar in 2015
Born1973 (age 50–51)
NationalityBritish-Israeli
Alma materBezalel Academy of Arts and Design
Occupation(s)Graphic designer, illustrator and artist
Years active2001–present
Known forNegative Space

Noma Bar (born 1973) is a graphic designer, illustrator and artist, based in London.[1] Bar's work has been described as "deceptively simple", featuring flat colours, minimal detail and negative space to create images that often carry double meanings that are not immediately apparent.[2][3] Bar himself outlines his approach as avoiding unnecessary detail or decoration that might detract from an image's message, instead aiming for 'maximum communication with minimal elements.'[3]

Born in Israel and based in London since 2000, his illustrations appear internationally in newspapers, magazines, book covers and advertising campaigns.[4][5] Publications that have featured his work include The New Yorker,[6] The Guardian, The New York Times, Time Out London,[5] GQ, The Economist, Wallpaper* and Esquire.[4] Bar works on campaigns for companies such as Apple,[7] Google, Sony, Nike,[5] IBM[8] and Coca-Cola,[9] as well as for public institutions like the V&A,[10] the BBC,[11] NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital[12] and BAFTA.[13] He also designs book covers, including covers for book series by the authors Don DeLilo[14] and Haruki Murakami,[15] as well as releasing three books of his own work: Guess Who?: The Many Faces of Noma Bar (2008), Negative Space (2009), and Bittersweet (2017), a five-volume retrospective.

As well as appearing in print, Bar's work has also been featured in exhibitions, talks and festivals and, in recent years, has branched out to include prints, 3D sculpture, architecture and animation.[16] He has been the recipient of a Gold Clio award, a D&AD Yellow Pencil, Cannes Lions Gold and Silver prizes, a Gold Epica Award and won 'Life-enhancer of the Year' at the Wallpaper* Design Awards.

  1. ^ "Noma Bar: Negative Space - Creative Review". Creative Review. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  2. ^ Popova, Maria (4 August 2011). "Noma Bar's Minimalist Vector Portraits of Cultural Icons". The Atlantic. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b Bierut, Michael (2017). Noma Bar: Bittersweet. London: Thames & Hudson. pp. 8–12. ISBN 978-0-500-02129-3.
  4. ^ a b "Negative Space: The Inside-Out Illustrations of Noma Bar". Fast Company. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Wainwright, Oliver (11 November 2013). "Noma Bar: 'My work is a painkiller'". the Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  6. ^ "An Interview with Noma Bar". The New Yorker. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Noma Bar". The Drum. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Interview: Skyping with Noma Bar - Print Magazine". Print Magazine. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Bittersweet, by Noma Bar". Design Week. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Design - Creative Review". Creative Review. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Noma Bar". Dutch Uncle. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  12. ^ "A Walk in the Woods with Noma Bar". 26 September 2017.
  13. ^ Bierut, Michael (2017). Noma Bar: Bittersweet. London: Thames & Hudson. p. 215. ISBN 978-0-500-02129-3.
  14. ^ "Don DeLillo covers by Noma Bar - Creative Review". Creative Review. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Murakami covers by Noma Bar - Creative Review". Creative Review. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Bittersweet / Made by Folk". Made by Folk. Retrieved 26 June 2018.