A Good Life
Renowned graphic artist Peter Good ’65 (SFA), who received the University Medal for his work designing the University’s oak leaf logo and is perhaps best known as the designer behind the enduring Hartford Whalers logo, died at home in Chester, Connecticut, on May 3 at age 80.
I was immersed in Peter Good’s art just through my existence.
I come from a small family. Both of my parents were artists — my dad, Paul Zelanski, was a professor at UConn for almost 40 years. He taught Peter; my mom, Annette (Harding) Zelanski ’65 (SFA); and Peter’s wife, Janet Cummings Good ’66 (SFA). We chose friends to be our family, and the closest were those connected through UConn, both faculty and alumni. I grew up with the Goods — some of my earliest childhood memories were playing at their house. We shared meals and attended parties, concerts at Jorgensen, and so many art openings.
I remember always being in awe of Peter’s work and knowing I ultimately wanted to work for him. I kept in touch with Peter while I was at UConn. When I graduated, I wanted to make sure I earned my spot at Peter Good Graphic Design (which was the business before he and Jan started Cummings & Good). I got his advice before I took my first job at Newman Design Associates, and when I was ready to leave there, I essentially showed up at his office like a stray cat that they fed and never left. I would find a corner of a desk to work at just to be close to his greatness. Peter was so incredibly generous and kind, and such a thoughtful teacher.
He would let me come with him to client meetings and presentations. He confessed he never liked public speaking, and I quite enjoyed it. I know how lucky I was that he allowed me that experience as a young professional. I have so many memories of driving over the river and through the woods together, just talking about ideas, design, concepts, books, music, and art. Those are my most treasured memories, the quiet moments. It’s not the published work that I remember the most — yes I smile every single time I see the Hartford Whalers logo, especially on a young person, the next generation appreciating his design — but for me, it was always the process. It’s the thinking, the research, the discovery, the humor, the making of things.
From a set of Christmas stamps issued in 1993 to the UConn oak leaf symbol to the Hartford Whalers logo, the work of one of UConn’s first graphic design majors lives on.
Through the duration of my career, the tools we use as designers have advanced beyond our imaginations. I worked for Peter as computers transitioned into office spaces, but were yet to be fully embraced. We always started with a sketch pad, and I still do to this day. We spent so much time making things in the studio — design was very tactile. One of the things that I learned from Peter was that a good idea will always last. I think that’s what makes Peter’s work so timeless. Certain design, you can look at and immediately know when it was created, like fashion. There are trends within design and typography that date it to a time period. Peter always avoided that, his work started with the purity of an idea balanced with the art and craft of execution. It was never design for the sake of design. There’s a capacity with digital tools to make things look polished, but sometimes when you strip it down, there’s nothing there. Peter’s work was successful as a drawing on a piece of paper — it wasn’t the application that made it interesting. It’s special because it’s smart.
You can recognize Peter’s work because his artistry came through so strongly. I understand that passion and love. I understand that joy for design wasn’t bound by time or hours that were billed to the client. That’s the life of somebody who lives as a graphic designer. Peter was truly looking for the best idea, the best solution — sometimes that took a great deal of time, even if the outcome looked relatively simple.
Peter Good ’65 (SFA) and Noemi Zelanski Kearns ’89 (SFA) at a wedding in 1993.
The very last time I saw Peter, we were planning on having lunch together at my studio. I told him then, as I told him every time I talked with him, how incredible it was for me to work for him and that it changed the trajectory of my life. I told him again that I hear his voice every day. I’m still surrounded by him. I’ve owned Ink&Pixel Agency for more than 29 years, but I continue to recognize his favorite typefaces, glyphs, and ligatures. He’s over my shoulder when I kern type, when I force line breaks.
Decades later, I hear Peter. He was so incredibly talented. He loved what he did, and he never compromised. It wasn’t work, it was the passion he had for life. That’s why his design will live on, and that’s why people recognize it even at a glance, because that’s how brilliant he was. That’s the mark of an artist whose work comes from their being. It’s not just a job. He taught me to be a designer for life. I miss him terribly. I truly, start to finish, admire him.
By Noemi Zelanski Kearns ’89 (SFA)
I am in tears just finding my special friend from my years in the fine Arts program studying side by side with Peter and Janet at UCONN. He and Janet were my dear friends. I am just learning about Peter’s passing thru the UCONN magazine. Noemi described Peter exactly. He had a huge heart, was so well liked and always took time when I stopped in to Chester at his business. Please send my heartbroken thoughts at his loss to Janet and hope I will hear from her soon. UCONN has always brought forth such gifted individuals such as Peter. He should be recognized in a huge way by the Fine Arts Department. All my best to Peter’s family.
Ann D Williams UCONN alumnus 1964
Wow, as chemistry major at UConn in the early 80’s; the students I admired most were engineering majors, associate hard science majors like myself, and graphic arts majors. They were the hardest working students on campus. I now own a small winery where I’ve been able to combine science and art together (both on the palate and for the eyes). Most of our labels I’ve drawn. The label for Eden’s Pleasure, the world’s original chocolate wine, was designed by one of the graphic art students at UConn. At festivals throughout New York and Massachusetts I’ve seen people wearing the Hartford Whalers logo. It seems to be showing up more lately at shows.
One of my proudest possessions is my Whalers T-shirt. When I worked on the corporate staff of United Technologies I was assigned to work with the Whalers when they arrived in Hartford after being bought by UTC as the original corporate and spent a fair amount of time with them
I would like to add my own observations and recollections.
When I was an ungrad there at UConn I spent 1976-77 at the University of Lisbon and, for Christmas, my parents sent over a box that had treats from home, including a Whalers t-shirt (which I still have). When I was later a grad student there I worked as a photographer for the university. One of the magazines or newsletters was doing a piece on Peter Good as he was getting some kind of award. I was assigned to get the pictures for the story which I did. While there I listened to his explanation of how he came up with the design, including defining the “H” in negative space with the other two elements. In its simplicity, it is truly a genius design.
Proof of its genius is in its ability to serve more purposes. While the Whalers had a farm team in Binghampton, NY, they used the logo but it was rotated so that the “W” was now a “B”. The other night here in Maryland I played a game for the Killer Whales in a local hockey league and their logo included a version of the Hartford logo but with the “H” reworked to a “K”. (Who knows if anyone gets royalties from that one!) Pretty much every league across America has a team that uses a version of the Whalers logo.
Also, a few years ago my daughter and her husband, who both grew up in CT, had a Whaler-themed wedding (in VT), complete with an intro by Chuck Kaiton, the Voice of the Whalers. By the way, I sometimes play now with some guys who played for the Whalers then.
So, somewhere in the photo archives (circa 1985) there are the photos that I took of Peter Good that evening. Who knows? I may even have been shooting in color that night (a rarity).