Alina Wheeler, the daughter of a sea captain, was born on October 14, 1948, in South Orange, New Jersey. She spoke Polish earlier than she spoke English. Alina’s first encounter with branding occurred within the second grade at Sacred Coronary heart of Jesus. When requested to color-code her soul, Alina was advised to paint it black if she had sinned quite a bit, white if she had been pure, and crimson if she had solely sinned just a little. (She coloured hers in a checkered sample.) That childhood expertise ignited her fascination with coloration and model structure.
Alina graduated from the College of the Arts in Philadelphia in 1970 and, in 2012, acquired the college’s Silver Star, an award given to excellent alumni. In 2003, she first revealed Designing Model Id. This guide demonstrated the connection between technique and design and showcased compelling greatest follow case research from the worldwide private and non-private sectors. Designing Model Id was a novel reinvention of the thought of a advertising and marketing textbook as a result of it demystified branding and illuminated the vary of instruments and strategies utilized by skilled practitioners. Alina’s guide was a right away hit, hanging a deep cultural chord and unequivocally proving how the branding follow engaged intelligence, creativity, creativeness, and emotion, in contrast to another enterprise self-discipline. Now obtainable in eleven languages, the sixth version of Designing Model Id shall be revealed subsequent month (February 2024). Wheeler additionally co-authored Model Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Seen in 2011, a complete information to the model course of enriched with illustrative diagrams.
Alina was additionally a passionate member of AIGA. In 1980, she was a founding board member of AIGA Philadelphia and have become its president in 1985. Alina additionally served on AIGA’s nationwide board from 1991 to 1994 and was honored as an AIGA Fellow in 1999, the inaugural yr of this prestigious award. In 2020, she was a founding board member of African Design Issues, a world partnership cataloging the inventive work of individuals of African descent.
Alina Wheeler, one of many world’s nice model consultants, described her enterprise as managing notion. She may discuss as vividly about David Bowie as about Dove Cleaning soap or Deloitte. Alina was a fascinating presence, deeply dedicated to her household and associates, and one of many kindest, most beneficiant souls in design and branding. Alina’s celebration of life shall be held on January 27 on the Barnes Basis in Philadelphia.
Learn extra about this extraordinary girl on her web site. And take heed to Debbie Millman’s 2011 interview with Alina Wheeler on Design Issues.
