Alvin Lustig was a legendary graphic designer, industrial designer, interior designer and architect. Personally Mr Lustig disliked being labeled, something he thought being limiting, and he simply called himself a designer. But the fact remains that he was a multi diciplinary super designer that didn’t fear any projects and produced amazing end results.
Lustig was born in Denver in 1915 and brought up in Los Angeles where his father worked in the film industry. As a teenager Lustig showed a talent for making puppets and staged shows as a magician. He soon spent more time making posters for his shows than focusing on the show itself and left his career in magic for one in graphic design.
He studied graphic design for a year in Los Angeles before studying for Frank Lloyd Wright at his Talesin Estate in Wisconsin. After a mere 3 months however Lustig had enough of sitting by the master’s feet and he returned to LA. Without the education he was looking for he struck up a friendship with architect Richard Neutra who gave Lustig access to his private library of modern architecture and design.
From the late 1930s to the early 1950s Lustig designed chairs, cabinets, tables, lamps textiles and interiors. His own design studios rendered him many feature articles in architectural magazines, a great feat considering he was essentially self-taught.
In 1937 Lustig opened his first studio in Los Angeles and it didn’t take long until he was known for his book-design. This led to a commission to make book jackets for New Direction, where he created his most well known work.
Through a close friend from college, the engineer William H. Thomas, Lustig who now had made a name for himself as an industrial designer, was commissioned to design a mini helicopter for the Roteron Company. The idea was to make a small, one-seater, affordable helicopter selling for only $2,800. To save on both cost and space it was decided to put the engine between two coaxial rotors.
Being able to pull this off, taking on a design task that was totally alien to him, is, if anything, a testament to Mr Lustig’s talent and genius.
Alvin Lustig sadly suffered from diabetes making him blind at the age of 39 and tragically led to his death at the age of 40.