TM Research Archive

Following on from my previous article regarding the fantastic Typographische Monatsblätter journal
there is now a dedicated resource that focuses on the periods from 1960 to 1990. The TM Research Archive is a website that was initiated by Louise Paradis and set up by ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne in order to provide a reference tool for both personal and educational purposes. It is interesting to see how cover design styles have changed over the different decades but for me the simplicity of the covers created in the early 60s and the geometric styles from the 50s really stand out. Be sure to bookmark this site as there will be a series of interviews with some of the outstanding designers that have contributed over the years.

Hans Neuburg

Hans Neuburg (1904-1983) a designer and a writer was one of the key figures and publicists of the Swiss International style. He trained at the Zurich print publishers Orell Fussli and worked for various firms in Switzerland in late 1920s-1930s. In 1928 he was a copywriter at the Dalang advertising agency where he was at the forefront of industry advertising. Neuburg became an advertising specialist working and collaborating with many designers and photographers including Max Bill and Herbert Matter. From 1933 to 1937 he promoted and published his own newsletter Industrie-Werbung. His earliest example of industry advertising, working alongside Anton Stankowski was for the engineering company Sulzer (see above). Neuburg was given the job of designing all the advertising material for Sulzer's central heating and ventilation department and a range of forms and stationery. He wanted to produce a clean, contemporary and unified look by introducing a the word Sulzer as the logotype/trademark set in Akzidenz Grotesk. 

Neuberg is probably most famous for his work on Neue Grafik magazine (1958-1965) where he was part of the editorial team alongside Richard Paul Lohse, Joseph Müller-Brockmann and Carlo Vivarelli. The magazine was to define the Swiss modernist style. During the 1960s he wrote a  number of books notably - Publicity and Graphic Design in the Chemical Industry (1967) which has become the holy grail for designers and collectors of the Swiss style. For a fall account of this book and more of Hans Neuburg's work head over to designer books an amazing depository of rare books.

Agenda CCCB

If you read Hey Studios profile it cites that they always wanted to have their own style, one that when looking back would look pure and consistent, (not unlike the old swiss masters). The ingredients they chose for this were geometry, color and direct typography. I am pleased to say their body of studio work certainly lives up to it as you can see by these recent brochure catalogues for Agenda CCCB. The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) organizes exhibitions, debates, festivals and concerts and encourages creation using new technologies and languages. For more geometrical goodness take a sneak peak at their website.

Dutch Police Identity

It's not often that you can say that you would want to be 'pulled over' by the local police force, but, in the Netherlands I may just make an exception. Can you believe that this visual identity by perennial favorite Studio Dunbar was created back in 1992 and launched in 1993! It still looks as fresh today as it did then, which is testament of a sustainable corporate design system. Check out the 911 cabriolet, I would not have believed this existed if I hadn't actually seen one for myself on a visit to Amsterdam. Then again it could have been the space cake!

Helvetica Beer

Interesting concept by designer Sasha Kischenko from Moscow in Russia for a Swiss brewed Helvetica Beer. Check your kerning and asymmetric layouts after 6 pints of this stuff!

Genworth Visual Identity

Stunning piece of branding by Tolleson Design for Genworth Financial Wealth Management. Faced with the challenge of three distinct business units with their own mix of collateral they created an identity that was flexible enough to bring all divisions together under a single brand whilst still maintaining their individual offer. The identity paid homage to their existing brand by continuing  with the nautical inspired design theme. Click through for the full story and to see how the application of the visual design system works across multiple items.

The Absurdity of Form

Love these set of posters by Monotono, designed to challenge you by showing you familiar shapes in a different context. With a minimalist aesthetic, what is taken out is as important as what is shown. They have kept with the less is more on approach on their website, I particularly like their mantra...

What is boring? Boring is the absence of a good idea. At Monotono, we believe that nobody suffers from boredom when they’re making something beautiful. And we’d rather die from exhaustion than boredom.