Marian Bantjes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marian Bantjes
Designer Marian Bantjes at Pop!Tech 2008.
Born	1963 (age 61–62)
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Typographer, Illustrator, Graphic Designer

Marian Bantjes (born 1963) is a talented Canadian designer, artist, and writer. She is famous for her unique graphic art. Marian creates amazing custom lettering and detailed patterns. Her style is very decorative and often combines different influences. These include old illuminated manuscripts, Islamic calligraphy, and Baroque art. She has also written two books.

About Marian Bantjes

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Marian Bantjes was born in 1963 in Saskatchewan, Canada. She studied art for one year in 1982. After that, she started working in visual communication in 1983.

From 1984 to 1994, she worked as a book typesetter. This means she arranged text for books. Later, from 1994 to 2003, she became a well-known graphic designer. She was a partner at a company called Digitopolis in Vancouver, British Columbia. There, she designed logos and communication materials for many businesses and art groups. She even ran her own design firm with a small team.

Developing a Unique Style

In 2003, Marian left her firm to create the kind of art she is now famous for. She calls herself a graphic artist. She mostly works with custom type (fancy letters) and decorations. Her art is very personal and detailed. It has brought her worldwide recognition.

Marian is known for her precise digital art and careful hand-drawn designs. Her work often features intricate patterns and a very ornamental style. Famous designers like Stefan Sagmeister call her one of the best typographers today. She was also named one of the top designers to watch in 2005.

Notable Clients and Projects

Marian Bantjes has worked with many big names. Her clients include famous design firms like Pentagram and Stefan Sagmeister. She has also designed for stores like Saks Fifth Avenue. Her work has appeared in popular magazines such as Print Magazine, Wallpaper* , and WIRED. She has also contributed to major newspapers like The New York Times.

She has also created designs for design organizations. These include AIGA and the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC). Her art has been shown in many design magazines around the world.

Writing and Speaking

Marian Bantjes is also a skilled writer about design. She used to write regularly for a popular design website called Speak Up. She often serves as a judge for design awards. She also gives talks at design conferences and schools worldwide. Marian believes in putting your own unique touch into every project. This is why her artistic style is so easy to recognize. In 2007, she even released a special font called "Restraint." This font includes her unique decorative style.

Exhibitions and Shows

Marian Bantjes's work has been featured in many art shows. These exhibits have taken place in famous museums and galleries.

• March 2008 - Her work was part of the "Rococo: The Continuing Curve" exhibit. This show was at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.
• Jan–Feb 2009 - She had a solo exhibit at the University Art Gallery. This was at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA.
• December 2009 - Her art was shown in the "Lubalin Now" exhibit. This took place at The Cooper Union, School of Art in New York, NY.
• April 2010 - She was one of 14 designers in the "Saved by droog" exhibit. This was at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Italy.
• July–October 2010 - Her work was part of the "Saved by droog" collection. This was at the Centraal Museum Utrecht in the Netherlands.
• March–June 2011 - She had a solo exhibit at the OnSite Gallery. This was at OCAD, Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, ON, Canada.
• June 2013 - Her art was included in the "Work at Play" exhibit. This show was at the Chicago Design Museum in Chicago, IL.

Awards and Recognition

Marian Bantjes has received many awards for her design work.

• Print’s Regional Design Annual, Certificate of Excellence (2006). This was with Stefan Sagmeister for their work "The Vanity of Allegory."
• Communication Arts, Award of Excellence (2007). This was for her writing with Pentagram on "The Alphabet."
• 26th Annual Western Magazine Awards (2008). This was for her illustration "My Dear Can We Work Together" in Vancouver Review.
• Type Directors’ Club tdc2 (2008). This award was with Ross Mills for their font "Restraint."
• Type Directors’ Club 54 (2008). This was for her designs for the TypeCon 2007 event.
• Communication Arts Design Annual 2009. This award was with Pentagram for Strathmore paper ream wrap.