Dorfsman was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, on 24 April 1918. His parents were originally from Poland. Dorfsman had wanted to attend New York University to study bacteriology but the tuition was too high. He attended Cooper Union, where he awarded a Citation for Outstanding Professional Achievement in 1956 and highest alumni distinction in 1963. He started work for different kind of design jobs, including designing displays for the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
Dorfsman joined CBS Radio Network as art director in 1946. After Wiliam Golden, who designed the emblematic CBS eye logo, passed away; Dorfsman was promoted as design director of CBS television. After few years later he became the director of design for the entire Columbia Broadcasting system. He ensured the branding of the CBS for all application after he became a creative director for marketing communications and design. All the other logos for CBS that he designed were with Didot except for the CBS Theatrical Films.
He designed the signage for the CBS headquarters building, which built by the architect Eero Saarinen, at 51W52. He also worked with Herb Lubalin and Tom Carnase to design the dinning wall “Gastrotypographicalassemblage”. Too bad that the wall was removed and now is being restored. If you are interested more about “Gastrotypographicalassemblage” please click here.
