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Author Bio
• Birth—ca. 1969-70 (?)
• Where—Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
• Education—B.A., Columbia University
• Currently—lives in New York, New York
Peter Mendelsund is the associate art director of Alfred A. Knopf and a recovering classical pianist. He has risen to become part of the all-star lineup of designers at Random House, and his designs have been described by The Wall Street Journal as being “the most instantly recognizable and iconic book covers in contemporary fiction." He is also the art director for Vertical Press, an independent Japanese-American publisher. (Adapted from the publisher and designrelated.com.)
In his words:
The arts always played a large role in my family—my father was an architect-turned-sculptor, and my sister was a painter. I always thought (and still suspect that) I was the one in the family who lacked visual aptitude—We’d go to museums together (incidentally, my mother works at the Metropolitan Museum) and I’d wonder what all the fuss was about.
I think my dad considered me a lost cause in the visual-department as well, because he shackled me to the piano when I was five and I’ve been playing ever since. I went to Columbia U. and was a Philosophy major, though I spent most of my time playing the piano. After College, I got various useless graduate degrees in music from various conservatories, then performed, taught, and wrote classical music for a spell.
When my first daughter was born, it became clear that a certain someone needed more income.... and after some soul-searching about what I enjoyed doing other than music (reading, making stuff), I taught myself Quark etc., volunteered to design some CD covers for a NY record label where I’d made some recordings, and six months after that, I showed up with a "book" at John Gall’s door, met Carol [Devine Carson] and Chip [Kidd] (ok, I had no idea who any of these people were, which helped A TON).
The following week, I was working here; first at Vintage, eight months after that, Knopf hardcovers. Improbably, the entire process from music to design took less than a year. I count my lucky stars that John and Carol were up for a gamble. (Excerpted from designrelated.com.)
The following week, I was working here; first at Vintage, eight months after that, Knopf hardcovers. Improbably, the entire process from music to design took less than a year. I count my lucky stars that John and Carol were up for a gamble. (Excerpted from designrelated.com.)