Louise Fili (Principal), an expert in Italian visual culture, is an internationally celebrated creative director, graphic designer, type designer, and author. Formerly senior designer for Herb Lubalin, Fili was art director of Pantheon Books from 1978 to 1989, where she designed close to 2,000 book jackets. She has received Gold and Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators and the New York Art Director's Club, the Premio Grafico from the Bologna Book Fair, and three James Beard award nominations. Fili has taught and lectured extensively, and her work is in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress, the Cooper Hewitt Museum, and the Bibliothèque National
She is author of Elegantissima, Grafica della Strada, Graphique de la Rue, Gràfica de les Rambles, The Cognoscenti's Guide to Florence, and Italianissimo and co-author (with Steven Heller) of Italian Art Deco, British Modern, Dutch Moderne, Streamline, French Modern, Deco España, Deco Type, German Modern, Design Connoisseur, Typology, Stylepedia, Euro Deco, Scripts, Shadow Type, Stencil Type, and Slab Serif Type. A member of the Art Directors Hall of Fame, she has also received the prestigious medals for Lifetime Achievement from the AIGA and the Type Directors Club, and three James Beard award nominations.
Ambessa(Ethiopian for lion) is a line of imported teas for chef Marcus Samuelsson. The flavors trace his history—from African birthplace to American home (Earl of Harlem).
Using wood type faces and bold primary colors gives this chili mix, which comes in a kitchen-match box, its spicy allure. The brand was extended to a lively line of barbecue products.
Inspired by Italian typographic design from the early twentieth century, these wine labels for Polaner Selections are virtual mini-posters.
Marseille is an Art Deco-inspired typeface with a distinctive flair that exudes La Belle France
Montecatini takes its cues from the elegant Stile Liberty travel posters of Italy in the early 1900s.
Mardell is an Italian Futurist-inspired typeface designed for the Hamilton Wood Type Museum.
Montecatini
School of Visual Arts honored Louise Fili with the 28th annual Masters Series Award and Exhibition in October 2016. “The Masters Series: Louise Fili” was the first comprehensive retrospective of her forty-year career and includes book jackets, branding, food packaging, and restaurant identity work. The exhibit was designed by Kevin O'Callaghan.