Tibor Kalman, a Hungarian-American graphic designer, passed away in 1999 at the age of 50, leaving a profound impact on the field of graphic design. Renowned for his innovative ideas and ethical approach, Kalman was considered a guiding voice for the profession. That same year, the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) honored him with their medal of merit, recognizing his influence with the statement: "Of the two names that changed design in the ‘80s and ‘90s — Mac and Tibor — one changed the way we work, the other the way we think." Kalman’s design studio, M&Co., founded in 1979 and named after his wife Maira, became a cornerstone of his creative and activist pursuits.