Susan Block
Susan Block has worked in advertising for her entire life, even while attending the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City (NYC) on a full tuition scholarship and graduating with honors.
She began her career as an Assistant Art Director at Harper’s Bazaar magazine and went on to become the Art Director at Family Health magazine. She left Family Health to tour with the Rolling Stones – an offer she couldn’t refuse. Her boyfriend was one of their videographers, and what an experience that was! Surviving the tour, Susan returned to NYC to partner in Progressive Designers (PD), a graphic design studio specializing in branding.
A year later, in 1977, Susan was invited to teach at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City – another offer she couldn’t refuse. Susan left PD to teach but her love for advertising led her to create Circle, Square and Triangle (CS&T), a niche-advertising agency in NYC specializing in Fine Arts, Fashion, and Jewelry Advertising.
Her work for CS&T notwithstanding, Susan is committed to design education. Many of her students have gone on to top-level positions as art directors and creative directors in the world’s leading advertising agencies, graphic studios and publishing houses. From 2000 – 2007 Susan chaired the Communication Design Department at FIT. From 2007 – 2012 she was the Online Director for the School of Advertising at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
A well-known consultant in the industry, Susan is quoted on book covers and in various publications. She’s taught at Marywood University in its Communication Design Master’s Program, guest lectures at colleges and industry events, and chairs and judges industry and student competitions. Susan’s industry memberships included the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the Art Directors Club (ADC), the One Club, the Society of Illustrators (SI), the Society of Publication Designers (SPD), and the Type Directors Club (TDC). She has also served on the boards of both SPD and TDC.
Susan now lives on Martha’s Vineyard with her husband, Noah.
