Miljenko Licul

Miljenko Licul(6 August 1946 – 16 March 2009) was aSloveniangraphic designerofCroatiandescent.He was one of the most prominent graphic designers in independent Slovenia.

Life and work

Licul was born in theIstriantown ofVodnjan,which was then part of theYugoslavoccupation zone of theJulian March(now inCroatia). His parents were IstrianCroats.He moved to Slovenia in his youth and lived and worked there most of his life.

He was a founder of the groupZnak,and leader of studiosZodiakandDiptih.For some time, Licul taughttypographyat theAcademy of Fine Arts and Designin Ljubljana. Licul's work covers a wide spectrum of arts; from designing publications, posters and magazine covers topostage stampsand calendars.

One of his most prominent career highlights was in 1991, when he won the contest for designing new Slovenian currency, thetolar.The banknotes, which were in circulation from October 1991 until the end of 2006, featured portraits of prominent Slovenian personalities, the work of painterRudi Španzel.When Slovenia adopted theeuroas the national currency, Licul designed the national side ofSlovenian euro coins,together with Maja Licul andJanez Boljka.Licul and Boljka designed tolar coins together, as well.

Besides the national currency, Licul also designed several official documents, such as the Slovenianpassport,identity cardand health insurance card. His other works include the designing of a new graphic image for theSlovenian National Gallery.

Awards

For his opus, Licul was awarded several prizes. In 1985 he received the Prešeren Foundation Award for his achievements in graphic design. In 1988 Licul won thePlečnikAward, the highest award in the field of design, architecture and urban planning in Slovenia. In 2008 he was awarded thePrešeren Award,the highest Slovenian national prize in the field of arts, together with translatorJanez Gradišnik.On that particular occasion, it was substantiated that Licul's works were of highest quality and that he was among the authors who renewed the strictly modernistic style of the 1970s, without omitting the historical features.