Michael Ulrich (bio)

Yesterday I finished designing the "Q&A" feature [Bonnie Siegler of Number Seventeen, NY interviews Ruth Ansel of Ansel Design, NY] for the November/December issue of STEP inside design, when I had a flashback to 1989. The founding editor of our magazine was lamenting the lack of influential women designers to write about. She was the occasional recipient of the criticism that we only covered men. Well...as the ad says "You've Come a Long Way Baby".

The upcoming issue of STEP inside design [available on the newsstand Friday, October 28th] is all about Women in Design, and this installment of "Q&A" is my favorite feature in the issue [so far]. Ms. Ansel before starting her own design firm—for those of you who don't know—was the Art Director of Harpers Bazaar, The New York Times Magazine, and Vanity Fair. Her work is great, as are her insights. Here's one of my favorite quotes:

"Trust your instincts, take risks, embrace accidents, keep looking at everything, know your subject, appear fearless (even when you aren’t), and most importantly work with an enlightened client or collaborator as often as you can. Don’t think too much, let it go."

I love this stuff.

I'm now working on a four-page feature by Sheree Clark of Sayles Graphics Design, Des Moines, in which she recounts the successful—but sometimes volatile—relationship with her partner John Sayles. Sheree is one of my favorite contributors to the magazine [she makes me laugh], and her openess about her relationship with John is gutsy. Great article Sheree.

And since I'm on the subject of women, STEP's fearless editor extraodinaire Emily Pott's will be moderating a discussion about women in design [Women Rock!] at the AIGA conference http://designconference.aiga.org September 15–18 in Boston. The lineup includes; Jessica Helfand, Winterhouse; Deanna Kuhlmann-Leavitt, Kuhlmann Leavitt, Inc.; Ellen Lupton, Design Writing Research; Bonnie Siegler, Number Seventeen. Emily being a woman herself [wow], and a mother [Charli] is well qualified to expound on the subject. If you're there, check it out and let me know what you think.

I'll keep you posted, and remember "Everthing should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler"—A. Einstein

Hi mom