From Carl’s daughter Tracy:

We wish to inform you that Carl Brett, a founding member of the Society of Typographic Designers of Canada and a Fellow of the GDC, passed away in Toronto on March 30, 2009. A memorial will be held for him Tuesday, April 14, and any GDC and RGDON members who knew him are welcome to attend. There will not be a service, as he was not a religious man. Instead, it will be an informal, drop-in event from 4-7 pm. Please see the obituary below for details.
 
BRETT, Carl E. - Peacefully after a brief illness at Princess Margaret Hospital on March 30, 2009 at 80 years of age. He is survived by his wife Kay, of 54 years, children Desmond and Tracy Brett, and grandchildren Jessica and David Brett-Caccia. Born in Cork, Ireland in 1928, he was educated at Crawford School of Art and worked in Ireland before immigrating to Canada with Kay in 1954. Beginning his Canadian career at Vickers and Benson Advertising, he also worked for Howarth and Smith before establishing his own company, Carl Brett Design. An expert on typography, he had a significant influence on graphic design and won numerous awards throughout his lengthy career. He was a founding member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and served as president on two occasions. He also taught at George Brown College and gave countless lectures and seminars.

Memorial will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, 4-7 p.m. at Newbigging Funeral Home, 733 Mt. Pleasant Rd., just south of Eglinton Ave. E. in Toronto, 416-489-8811. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca.

Thank you, Tracy Brett

If you wish to add memories or comments of your own on Mr. Brett, please email them to and we will add them here.

Recollections

Carl Brett was a true pioneer. When he arrived in Toronto in the 1950's, modernism in Canadian graphic design was in its infancy. I can hardly begin to imagine the hurdles Carl had to overcome and the entrenched conservative attitudes he was faced with. He was active in the founding of the Society of Graphic Designers ten or twelve years after his arrival, as I was. I'm sure he had clients tell him that sans serif text was unreadable... as I did, but he persevered. Carl was a bright, talented and often funny man. He left a legacy of fine work and fond memories with those of us who knew him. He will be missed.
— Burton Kramer, O.Ont, D.Des. (Hon), FGDC, RCA, AGI

I never met Carl personally, but I certainly knew of him and the great influence he had on the GDC. Carl’s obituary reminded me once again of the fact that so many of the founding members of the Society were newcomers to Canada. The GDC has truly international roots.
— Ulrich Wodicka FGDC

Carl Brett was one of the best in every way. Farewell my friend.
— Theo Dimson FGDC