George Tscherny, a leading figure in graphic design, whose work unified the clean lines of modern art with pop sensibility, died on Nov. 13 at his home in Manhattan. He was 99.

The family fled Germany after Kristallnacht and ultimately settled in New Jersey, after George and his brother Alex lived for several years in a home for refugee children.

Trained at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Mr. Tscherny apprenticed in Manhattan design studios for five years, then opened his own practice in 1955. He soon had a client list that included American Can, Colgate Palmolive, Pan Am and RCA, all hiring his office to design advertising, logos and annual reports. Unlike other graphic designers of the era, his work brought in humor and humanity. He taught at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, created its graphic design program, and designed its logo, still in use today.