Alexander Isley


Alexander Isley is an American graphic designer and educator.

Early life and education

Alexander Isley was born in Durham, North Carolina and studied at Durham Academy, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Isley initially wanted to become an architect like his father but discovered design upon enrolling in North Carolina State University, where he received a degree in Environmental Design. He later attended the Cooper Union School of Art in New York and received a BFA in graphic design.
In 1994, Isley married Veronica Burke.

Career

In 1984, Isley joined Tibor Kalman's influential M & Co. as senior designer. He held this position until 1987, when he joined Spy Magazine in 1987 as the first full-time art director. At Spy, he was tasked with implementing Steven Doyle's formatting and was awarded gold and silver medals from the Society of Publication Designers. In 1988, he founded Alexander Isley Inc. in New York City. In 1995, Isley moved the studio to Redding, Connecticut. The studio has worked on branding projects for Youth Service America, Armani Jeans and Goodwill, among others.
In 2004, Isley became the president of AIGA New York and an AIGA Fellow in 2013 after being a board member from 1988 to 1990.
In addition to his professional career, Isley taught Design and Typography at the School of Visual Arts from 1988 to 1990; Exhibit Design at the Cooper Union in 1992; and was a Critic and Lecturer at Yale from 1996 to 2011.

Honors and awards

The Alexander Isley Papers at the Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, covers Isley’s full career and includes initial concept explorations, original artwork, completed materials, and correspondence. An extensive selection of Isley’s poster designs are in the collection of the Museum of Design, Zürich.