From the late 1970s through the 1990s, graphic designer McRay Magleby and copywriter Norm Darais created witty and visually engaging informational posters for Brigham Young University. Their creations had such an impact that they were often stolen from the walls and halls of BYU campus by unwitting art collectors. With a collaborative relationship admired by professionals across the nation, Mac and Norm worked together from the initial development of a poster concept to the finished product. Mac’s understanding of the power and purpose of graphic design as a visual art and means to communicate practical information is evident in his eye-catching colors, lines, and shapes and the harmonious balance between text, typeface, and image. Norm’s skillful use of literature and language to engage and inform the reader within the character limitations of the design is equally masterful.
Wit and Vision, an exhibition on display through August 12 at the BYU Museum of Art, celebrates Mac and Norm’s matched talents by exploring BYU registration posters—the posters that, according to Mac, “got me out of bed every morning.” In creativity, artistry, and sheer volume, the body of work generated by Mac and Norm during their collaboration is unrivaled by any other university or academic institution. While the information on these posters is no longer relevant, the clever text, striking imagery, and overall design strategy of Mac and Norm’s registration posters continue to elicit a sense of awe—and hopefully a chuckle or two.
Come see their artwork on display at the BYU Museum of Art.
