Drawing on his more than 40 years of graphic design experience, Professor Steve Longo, who directs the Graphic Design Program at County College of Morris (CCM) in Randolph, felt that with all of the new technology currently being taught it was time to rediscover graphic design’s creative roots. Toward that end, he has put together an exhibition featuring the work of top designers from around the country.

The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, takes place Aug. 30 – Oct. 7 in the Art and Design Gallery in the Learning Resource Center on CCM’s Randolph campus. A reception, also free and open to the public, is set to be held on Thurs., Sept. 8, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Desiring to present a comprehensive view of the best of graphic design, Longo says, “I opened up my iPhone to check and make sure all of my approximately 100 contacts were still active with phone and email.” Then he planned his marketing communications strategy.

His first three calls were to retired adman and internationally recognized painter Allan Gorman, then to the leading authority on personalized marketing Harvey Hirsch and finally to Young & Rubicam’s former vice-president Bernie Zlotnick. Together, the four creative minds developed the theme: “Generations of Genius: An Exhibition Highlighting the Best in Visual Communication from the 1960s through Today.”

The retrospective features the work of some of the most celebrated graphic designers including Milton Glaser, whose designs include the I ©NY logo and the psychedelic Bob Dylan poster; Seymour Chwast, who designed the first McDonald’s Happy Meal box; Luba Lukova, whose work is represented in the permanent collection of MoMA; Paul Jervis, whose accounts include Volkswagen, United Airlines, Xerox and Miller Lite; and Mike Quon, a graphic artist who popularized his lively brushstroke style in advertising, design and illustration, whose 103 year-old father and early Disney animator will also have his work on exhibit, along with other artists.

For hours and more information, go to www.ccm.edu/library/hours.aspx. For more information on “Generations of Genius,” call 973-328-5446.