To celebrate the 17th anniversary of the design studio Number 17, where I began my career, I curated an exhibit of unique interpretations of the number 17. Unveiled on May 17 at the Type Directors Club, the exhibit ran for 17 days and showcased designs mounted on 17mm x 17mm boards.
This project began as a gift for Number 17’s founders, Bonnie Siegler and Emily Oberman. I contacted their friends, employees, and clients, including notable figures like Stefan Sagmeister, Ira Glass, and Paula Scher, for unique interpretations of the number 17. I compiled the submissions into a book, which was delivered on their anniversary. The book was wrapped in the same foil paper used for Number 17's first business cards, which I designed in 1993, complete with the die-cut "17."
The exhibit brought the pages of the book to life.
Out of over 100 contributions, here are 17 selections:
A rewarding aspect of the exhibition was the way it brought people together. Opening night celebrated the friendships and collaborations forged through Number 17, and it was a joy to see so many familiar faces gathered in one space.
The exhibit served as a fitting send-off for Emily and Bonnie as they embarked on new chapters in their careers—Emily becoming a partner at Pentagram and Bonnie launching 8 and a Half. When Number 17 closed, Bonnie and Emily sent me the die used to cut our original business cards. This gesture was a touching end to a significant chapter in all our lives.
PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS
Sean Adams
Keira Alexandra
Jonathan Alger
Kurt Andersen
Ruth Ansel
Arturo Aranda
Mark Aver
Alexander Bailey
Tee Bailey
Eric Baker
Marian Bantjes
Carin Berger
James Biber
Sam Bisbee
Natalie Bontumasi
David Bourgeois
Alexander Brebner
Stefan Bucher
Stella Bugbee
Luis Calvo
Andy Capelli
Arthur Ceria
Seymour Chwast
Lionel Cipriano
Robey Clark
Brian Collins
Jorge Colombo
Wade Convay
Pat DelCioppio
Hans Dorsinville
William Drenttel
Joe Fago
Loren Flaherty
Tobias Frere-Jones
Jason Fulford
Alexander Gelman
Ira Glass
Carin Goldberg
Bryony Gomez-Palacio
Greg Grabowy
Michael Grace, Jr.
Jonathan Gray
Peter Green
Holly Gressley
Linda Hamlin
Jessica Helfand
Steven Heller
Amelia Hennighausen
Allison Henry
Paul Hirsch
Drew Hodges
Sally Hogshead
William J. Hopper
Karen Hsu
Eva Hückmann
Ben Hughes
Randy J. Hunt
Tim Hussey
Alexander Isley
David Israel
Kalina Ivanov
Matthew Jacobson
Ted Jessup
Christine Jones
Leigh Jurecka
Maira Kalman
Hjalti Karlsson
Stefan Kassel
Bjorn Kowalski Hansen
Laura Kunkel
Elsa Lang
Lizzy Lee
Shay Lynch
Dindo Magallanes
Rachel Matts
Patrick McCabe
Debbie Millman
Pal Moore
William Morrisey
Cary Murnion
Kimiyo Nakatsui
Christoph Niemann
Lindsay Nordell
Marvin Oberman
Glenn O’Brien
Finn O’Hara
Theo Olesen
Leonard Pack
Nomi Joy Parker
Chee Pearlman
Clive Piercy
Beate Pietrek
Woody Pirtle
Andy Pressman
Brian Rea
Kristen Ren
Douglas Riccardi
Lindsay Richardson
Margaret Riegel
Mark Robinson
Michael Roma
Lia Ronnen
Laurie Rosenwald
Stefan Sagmeister
Naz Sahin
Paul Sahre
Amy Schatz
Buster Scher
Jeffrey Scher
Oscar Scher
Paula Scher
Tom Schierlitz
Veit Schütz
J.J. Sedelmaier
Tamara Shopsin
Alex Shulhafer
Josh Siegel
Jim Signorelli
Michele Silvestri
Arline Simon
Jilly Simons
David Slatoff
Felix Sockwell
Erik Spiekermann
James Spindler
Randy Stern
Matt Stevens
Scott Stowell
Andrew Taray
Jules Tardy
Rick Valicenti
William van Roden
Michael Vanderbyl
James Victore
Tucker Viemeister
Armin Vit
John Vondracek
Chip Wass
Alyce Waxman
Peter Wegner
Carla Weisberg
Jan Wilker
Asheley Wilson
Jessica Zadnik
Eric Zim