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“Dedicated, inspirational, dependable, imaginative, persuasive, perceptive, enthusiastic, intuitive, pertinacious, indefatigable, 99% infallible, durable, and wonderful, wonderful Cipe.” -John Russo

Cipe PinelesJune 23, 1908 – January 3, 1991

Cipe Pineles (Sea-pea Pi-Nell-liss), a well known designer, art director and inspiration to many today. Her most recognized pieces are associated with several magazine titles; such as Seventeen, Charm and Mademoiselle.

Cipe was born 1908 in Vienna, Austria. She later moved to Poland in 1920, then relocated to New York in 1923. It wasn’t until she spent time attending Pratt Institute in Brooklyn that she discovered her love for art. It was there, that she studied illustration, magazine cover design, composition, lettering and poster design. Despite all her training, she still had many troubles finding a job in a industry where men dominated the work place. Many of her job applications were turned down merely because of her gender. Due to this, she had to settle to being an art teacher in a school where she taught water colour painting.

Humble beginnings

In 1930, Cipe finally landed a job at Contempora. Ltd where she began designing fabrics. Her work there lead her to take inspiration from many fashion magazines, but it wasn’t until 1932 at a company called Condé Nast that Pineles became widely exposed to the world of fashion. There, she worked for Vogue and was to overcome many design challenges and lessons that would affect the rest of her career.

In the Industry

Work at Condé Nast

Although her work for Condé Nast was a huge inspiration. As time went by the company fell into complications and cause Cipe much grief despite becoming a established art director. In 1942, Condé Montrose Nast passed away and the company was put into new leadership. The work load became more exhausting and Cipe began feeling overworked. Meanwhile her personal life began falling apart as she found out she could not have children with her husband who later left to do business across the country. All the pressure eventually lead her to jump in front of a subway. Fortunately, she had fallen between the rails and survived.

Darker Times

December 1946 marked Cipe’s last issue as an art editor. She noted that she was let go from her position and said that it was a honor to be fired. Later that year, Cipe was given the opportunity she had been looking for. A former Vogue employee, Helen Valentine, asked Pineles to assist her in the design of the newly launched teen publication, Seventeen. Cipe was to be given full artistic control.

A New Beginning

Pineles was able to work with two very powerful women in her work for Seventeen. Helen Valentine and Estelle Elis. Helen was the magazine’s editor. She had a strong and clear vision of what she wanted the magazine to achieve. Estelle on the other hand, was the magazine’s promotions editor. Her promoting and marketing is what gained the magazine over one million readers in a five year span. With Pineles talent in design and innovative ideas, the three created a streaming success.

Seventeen

Work at Seventeen

With her work at Seventeen Pineles was regular winner at the Art Directors Club show. A show belonging to a exclusive club that was invitation only. At the time, the board was composed of males only. In 1948, Pineles officially became the first woman to be inducted into the Art Directors Club.

A Winner

Pineles eventually left seventeen after three years and moved on to work other magazines. The last two companies she published for were Charm and Mademoiselle. In December 1960, Pineles had left the magazine industry permanently. Two years later, she achieved a job Person’s The New School of Design. Her teaching and work inspired many students and future designers.

Beyond Seventeen

Throughout my research, I found Cipe Pineles extremely interesting. The fact that she was one of the first females to impact the design industry, is really inspiring. Her work is also really well done considering the tools they had to use back in the day. All of my favorite pieces are from seventeen, particularly the piece of the young lady in the white dress shirt and blue skirt.

I hope that someday, I may become just as successful as her.

Personal Thoughts

Thank you for reading!