Cipe Pineles was a pioneering female designer in the early 20th century. She overcame challenges of gender discrimination to become a renowned art director for magazines including Vogue, Seventeen, Charm, and Mademoiselle. Pineles was the first woman inducted into the exclusive Art Directors Club and inspired many students throughout her career.

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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Work at Condé Nast

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Work at Seventeen

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Thank you for reading!