News
20 January 2012
Celebrated Canadian designer Theo Dimson dies
TORONTO—Graphic designer Theo Dimson, known for his poster designs, died on January 18, 2012 from complications from pneumonia. He was 82.
Dimson was born in London, ON in 1930; he graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in 1950. Well known in the Toronto design scene, he co-founded Reeson Dimson & Smith Ltd. (later renamed Dimson & Smith Ltd.) in 1965 and established his own solo studio, Theo Dimson Designs Inc., in 1985.
Dimson was the author of Great Canadian Posters. His work has been exhibited internationally and at home — specifically at Marci Lipman Graphics in Toronto in 1978 and at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1993-94. More recently, in 2010, a collection of his theatre posters was exhibited at Toronto's Theatre Museum Canada.
In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of Dimson's life will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 3 p.m. at the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Oxfam Canada.
Dimson was born in London, ON in 1930; he graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in 1950. Well known in the Toronto design scene, he co-founded Reeson Dimson & Smith Ltd. (later renamed Dimson & Smith Ltd.) in 1965 and established his own solo studio, Theo Dimson Designs Inc., in 1985.
Dimson was the author of Great Canadian Posters. His work has been exhibited internationally and at home — specifically at Marci Lipman Graphics in Toronto in 1978 and at the Royal Ontario Museum in 1993-94. More recently, in 2010, a collection of his theatre posters was exhibited at Toronto's Theatre Museum Canada.
In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of Dimson's life will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 3 p.m. at the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Oxfam Canada.
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Live from Twitter
Yup that was old Peacock Theo. I first met Theo as a third-year student at OCA [now OCAD U] when one of my instructors Jerry Sevier invited me to their Sunday morning football games at Rosedale Park. When I showed up among a group of design and creative legends, at the time, there was no sign of Theo anywhere. So we started to play, half way through the game, this black mantel in a Jesuit's Cape and a huge fedora hat with immaculate Italian leather boots crawls out of a limousine with two babes on each arm and shows up along the sidelines. All I remember, after that is Ken Rodmell barking at him, as we stood around in mucked up T-shirts, running shoes and cut off jeans, "are ya gonna play or not Dimson?" That was Theo — you captured him to a tee!
I shortly learned he was a cool dude with great Accomplishment and a wealth of knowledge.
REST IN PEACE THEO
Logic will take you from A to B,
Imagination will take you everywhere!
We honour his life and his contribution to "great Canadian design."
Rock and roll, Theo.