The International Typographic or Swiss Style was a momentous
transitioning in the format of function, which was a mutual influence that
paralleled the fundamentals of the Bauhaus movement. While the spread of
International Typography can be credited in part to the engaging support
of the Swiss government, who collectively adopted the style as its own, there
are recognized individuals whose creative works both spread and founded the development.
Founders of this effort included Armin Hofmann, Josef Müller-Brockmann, Emil
Ruder, and Max Huber.
Armin Hofmann:
Born 1920, in Winterthur, Switzerland. For students of design, his name doesn't need much of an introduction, Hofmann, now a cult icon, was and is a giant in the realm of design, typography, and the progression of the Swiss Style. Having first finished an apprenticeship in lithography, he then taught at the Basel School of Design (or,
Schule fuer Gestaltung) before taking over as the president, following after Emil Ruder, and stayed there for nearly 40 years till 1986. His passion for design is exhibited through his posters, which he firmly believed was an integral tool in communication. In 1997 he won the Art Prize (about 15,000 U.S. dollars) in the city of Basel for his contributions to design and life's work. His published philosophy is included in his book, Graphic Design Manual, which is still held is high regards for design technique to this day.
Josef Müller-Brockmann:
Born on May 9 in Rapperswil, Switzerland. Another name just as important and probably even more well know is Brockmann. Having finished an apprenticeship in Graphic Design and taking influence from Bauhaus, De Stijl, and Constructivism, by age 43 he was an established designer and teaching at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts. He spent the majority of his life both designing posters for the school and city, teaching, and also touring different countries including the United States and Canada. Recognized through his work with awards such as the Brunel Award, and the Gold Medal of the Canton of Zurich. His design theories and writings are included in his books, Grid Systems in Graphic Design, and The Graphic Artist and His Problems. He died August 30th, 1996, in Zurich.
Born on May 9 in Rapperswil, Switzerland. Another name just as important and probably even more well know is Brockmann. Having finished an apprenticeship in Graphic Design and taking influence from Bauhaus, De Stijl, and Constructivism, by age 43 he was an established designer and teaching at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts. He spent the majority of his life both designing posters for the school and city, teaching, and also touring different countries including the United States and Canada. Recognized through his work with awards such as the Brunel Award, and the Gold Medal of the Canton of Zurich. His design theories and writings are included in his books, Grid Systems in Graphic Design, and The Graphic Artist and His Problems. He died August 30th, 1996, in Zurich.
Emil Ruder:
Born 1914 in Switzerland. Emil Ruder was also a key figure in the Swiss Style, although lesser known than the two names above, Ruder did work with both Hofmann and Brockmann and his work was just as important in the evolution of Typography. He apprenticed as a Compositor at age 15, and by age 20 was a student at the Basel School of Design where he worked alongside Hofmann and became a teacher of type design within it.
Max Huber:
Born 1919, in Switzerland. By age 17 he was a student at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts. After the war, Huber spent most of his time designing with the Alliance Association of Modern Swiss Artists in Zurich, led by designer Max Bill. He later became a very successful free-lance designer as he preferred to work with his clients directly, making very colorful yet structured, Swiss-influenced styled works. His designs boast rhythm and order without directly stating the structure or it being overtly obvious in any sense, with brilliant sense for color choices that allowing emotion to bleed through the grid and photography. In 1992 he passed in the small border village of Sango.
Born 1919, in Switzerland. By age 17 he was a student at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts. After the war, Huber spent most of his time designing with the Alliance Association of Modern Swiss Artists in Zurich, led by designer Max Bill. He later became a very successful free-lance designer as he preferred to work with his clients directly, making very colorful yet structured, Swiss-influenced styled works. His designs boast rhythm and order without directly stating the structure or it being overtly obvious in any sense, with brilliant sense for color choices that allowing emotion to bleed through the grid and photography. In 1992 he passed in the small border village of Sango.
Historical Events:
1940's:
Pearl Harbor
Mount Rushmore completed
FDR dies, Hitler's Suicide
Gandhi assassinated
Bombs on Hiroshima
ballpoint pens, the slinky, and bikini
Microwave Oven
Big Bang Theory
1950's:
First Organ transplant
Color TV
Polio Vaccine
DNA discovered
First Playboy Magazine
Disney Land and McDonald's
Nasa is founded
The peace symbol created
1960's:
First televised Presidential Debate
Lasers Invented
The Berlin Wall
Soviet's Launch man into space
Cuban Missile Crisis
JFK assassination
The Beatles become popular in the U.S.
Civil Rights Act
Los Angeles riots
Malcom X death
The New York City blackout
MLK assassination
Kennedy assassination
Star Trek and Sesame Street
