As part of an ongoing retrospective at Sacramento State, Kit Hinrichs will discuss his unique approach to narrative design by presenting a series of case studies from his career.

This 40-year retrospective, “The Storyteller’s Art,” is a tribute to Kit Hinrichs’ ability to convey a narrative message through design. What characterizes his design—whether a corporate identity, a museum exhibition, a magazine or book—is a compelling story line that communicates what the entity is all about in a manner that is evocative and memorable, says Library Gallery director Phillip Hitchcock. More than 200 examples of Hinrichs’ work will be on display at the University Library Gallery

His influence on America’s graphic landscape is familiar across a broad spectrum of media. Henrichs’ direction can be seen in catalogs ranging from “Design Within Reach” to “Restoration Hardware,” in recruitment books for McGeorge School of Law and USC, and in identity programs for The Nature Company, Gymboree and Napa Style.

Other examples of his design work include exhibits at the San Jose Museum of Art, and graphic development for Boudin Sourdough Bakery museum and restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Hinrichs is the graphic principal of the San Francisco office of Pentagram and a trustee of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He has authored several books, including TypeWise, about the narrative use of typography, and Long May She Wave, featuring his vast collection of Stars and Stripes memorabilia.