Profile: Charles Davidson

Prior to Davidson’s reconnection with his fine art origins, his commercial arts career was all consuming. As the Global Creative Director/Art Director of Movado Group Inc., 1980-2000. Davidson’s responsibilities included the creative direction of MGI’s advertising/design for Movado watches, Movado Retail Stores, and Corporate image. The Movado watch brand, with sales of $3.5 million at the onset of Davidson’s involvement, topped $200 million in fiscal 2000. Davidson has been credited with a key role in the success of the brand and outstanding Corporate growth.

During this period Davidson responsibilities also included MGI's other aquisitions: Wings Luggage. Concord Watches. Piaget Watches. ESQ Watches. Corum Watches.

After leaving Movado, Davidson devoted more and more time to his fine art roots limiting his commercial side to special advertising/graphics assignments including work on IBM Artificial Passenger, Vivid Diamond Jewelry, The New School, Net Jets Fractional Aircraft Onership, B'nai B'rith.

Today Davidson has limited his commerical work to a few select clients that include (a continuation of his passion for watches and jewelry); the Creative Consultant/Art Director for the Citizen Watch Company and Rand Diamonds.

Davidson has been selected for feature articles including: Advertising Age. Adweek. Art Direction. Madison Avenue. Print. How. WWD. Chicago Tribune. Idea Magazine, Japan. Graphic Design: USA. and most recently, Jewelers Quarterly.

Previous to Movado, Davidson chaired the Advertising and Graphic Design / Package Departments of Art Center College of Design, updating the culture and curriculum of the advertising program by incorporating marketing techniques, research and media into assignments. He helped establish ACCD Vevey Switzerland and served on its international advisory board. Also during these years Davidson initiated CDCSI, (Charles Davidson Creative Services Inc.) with creative/art direction on brands including: Thai Airways USA. MCM Luggage and Handbags. North American Watch brands: Piaget Watches, Corum Watches. Monarch Resources and Life. Davidson’s work on Piaget and Corum watches led to his long term association with Movado, also acquired by North American Watch Company.

Initially an Art Director for NW Ayer Advertising, Davidson’s accounts included: AT&T Corporate, Bell Labs and Long Distance. DuPont Paints, Carpet Fibers and Teflon. Sealtest Yogurt. DeBeers Diamonds. Newsweek Magazine. The S.S. France Cruise Ships. Infini Perfume. Chrysler Plymouth. The WR Grace Corp. Econ Labs Finish Dishwashing Detergent.

As a public service, Davidson has contributed design support to NYC, Sister Cities Program- “We are so privileged to have worked with you and reaped the benefits of your extraordinary talents,” Commissioner Livia S. Sylva. Creative / art direction on Ad Council projects including the highly controversial, VD is for Everybody campaign for ASHA, (IBA Award Winner and feature article, Print Casebooks Annual Edition). Creative/art direction to The American Heritage Foundation, “Urban Plight.” Creative/design support to the Teatown Lake Reservation Nature Center. Conceptual design support to the United Nations global project End Starvation- “Congratulations on your brilliant concept of world communication” a note from Buckminister Fuller expressed.

In May 1994, Davidson’s early design (1972) of the Concord Antibes watch was accepted into the permanent collection of the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Design. Antibes has been credited with inspiring many of today’s steel and gold fashion sport watches. Davidson’s “time perspective” design for Corum, The Fossil Watch, with feature articles in WWD and The Chicago Tribune was the first of Davidson"s watch designs. Davidson’s media concept and design, the Movado Handbag Collection, a “walking billboard” for the Museum Watch was a unique approach to promotion and sales. Davidson worked with Architect Phillip Johnson on the initial stages of Time Sculpture clock. The 14’ tall permanent bronze installation across from Lincoln Center was commissioned by Movado’s Chairman, Gedalio Grinberg and donated to NYC.

As an author and designer of books Davidson’s published works include the highly praised book, Stamping Our History (PIA Award of Excellence), with feature articles including; The New York, Los Angeles and Chicago Sun Times. Reviews and interviews: NBC Today, WFAS, and Continental Cable. A rare letter by Postmaster General Anthony M. Frank praises this262 page book. Concept / design of the 240 page book, Movado History, who’s reviews include high praise in Horological Journal and the watch industry. Design format and direction of Coinage and Conflict, by Henry Pollak. Most recently Davidson has just completed the design of a 260 page book, in association with The American Ballet Theater, for Rizzoli /Universe titled, The Ballet Book.

Among Davidson’s creative / art direction / design recognition are awards including: Clio’s. Andy Awards. The One Show. Print. Creativity. The Art Directors Clubs- NY, NJ, Pa. DESI. TELLY. International Advertising Festival. Society of ACCD Alumni. IBA. Advertising Age Awards.

Davidson received a life drawing scholarship from Otis Art Institute and graduated the Art Center College of Design, majoring in Advertising Design, at the age of 20. He was the college's youngest graduate.

Davidson’s fine art roots first resurfaced in 1988 with a one man show titled, “Artifacts Americana” at The Fine Arts Gallery SUNY, Valhalla. More recently Davidson's constructions have been exhibited as one man shows including: “Jewels of the Earth” at the Orensanz Foundation, NYC. “Artifacts Americana II” at the Westchester Council of the Arts, Croton-on-Hudson, NY. “Cycle/Recycle” at the Ossining Council for the Arts and the Yorktown Museum, NY. Most recently, Davidson has completed a prestigious solo exhibit at the Empire State Building main entrance gallery featuring selected works titled “American Archives.”

Davidson’s visibility in the fine art world has been self limiting over the past 15 years. While he has been constructing fine art during this time, drawing as a counterbalance to his commercial arts, and exhibiting for public view upon request when possible, he has had little time or desire to pursue the promotion or sale of his fine art. In an interview with Idea Magazine, Japan, Davidson said, “My fine art studio is a very private space that has given me solace and perspective over the years. Promoting it has seemed an invasion of that privacy. It brought it too close to the commercial art side of my brain at times when I wanted to distance myself from that.”

But currently Davidson has tested the promotional water showing at Maxwell Fine Arts in Peekskill, NY. It is Davidson's first exploration into the art gallery world now that his commercial side is far less imposing. “Davidson is a shaman of transformation. He entertains and seduces the viewer with his metamorphic formulations and alchemetic qualities. The viewer ultimately becomes a participant in his magical art”, says Bill Maxwell.