Susan Kare is a pioneering and influential computer iconographer based in San Francisco. Since 1983, she has designed thousands of software icons that are instantly recognizable to anyone who uses a computer. Created on a minimalist grid of pixels and crafted with mosaic-like precision, her icons effectively communicate their functions memorably and intuitively.
After earning a Ph.D. in fine arts from New York University, Kare initially took a curatorial job at an art museum but soon realized she wanted to be on the creative side. In 1982, she joined Apple as the sole creator of screen graphics for the Macintosh group, where she developed the distinctive icons, typefaces, and other pixel elements that gave the Macintosh its characteristic friendly look. Her lack of software experience proved beneficial, as she could empathize with non-technical users. In 1986, Kare joined Steve Jobs at NeXT Computer as the tenth employee before founding Susan Kare Design, a graphics studio. For decades, she provided humane design solutions for hundreds of clients. Since 2015, she has served as Creative Director at Pinterest, a company known for fostering inspiration.
Kare’s work is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and SF MoMA and has been exhibited at the London Design Museum. She has received the AIGA medal (2018) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum/Smithsonian Institution (2019).
In addition to her corporate work, Kare designs “Bitmap Textiles” and other home goods for Areaware. She enjoys surfing, making mobiles, and spending time with her family and Australian shepherd, Pepper.