Comments on: Swiss Graphic Design: The Origins and Growth of an International Style, 1920-1965 http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:50:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Robin Benson http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-160 Robin Benson Sun, 25 Apr 2010 08:41:29 +0000 http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-160 The 'Swiss style' comes alive in this fascinating and very comprehensive study. If you design for print and ever wondered how some everyday graphic principles and typefaces originated the answer is in these pages. The story begins in twenties central Europe with a merging of modern art, the Bauhaus, Russian constructivism, craft printing techniques, photography and strong cultural attitudes in German speaking Zurich. All of these influences produced a graphic language of simplicity and directness that spread across Switzerland and one would expect nothing less from a country associated with order and precision. <br /> <br />Interesting as the text is I was particularly impressed with the several hundred illustrations (all with extensive captions) and as this is a book about a visual style and basically a printed one the choice of posters, examples of typography and many spreads from brochures, magazines, books all work well to complement the words. <br /> <br />I was interested in the several pages devoted to the magazine 'Neue Grafik' (New Graphic Design) which was the flagship publication of the Zurich modernists. It only ran for seventeen issues (from 1958 to a double issue seventeen and eighteen in 1965) but was really the only opportunity for designers outside Switzerland to see what was going on. Strangely, despite the design aiming for clarity, reading the issues was a bit of a chore. Three languages were set in each edition in one typeface and one size with paragraphs stretching sometimes to hundreds of words with no par indents or line space. However each spread looked fresh and lively thanks to the publication's grid. <br /> <br />I think it is worth commenting on the book's production. Designed by the author it uses a two column grid but nicely many pages just have one column of text and the space for the other text column is divided into two and used for illustrations and captions. The many variations of these column elements really make the pages sparkle and I think many publication designers could learn something by studying how the text and graphics blend together throughout the book. <br /> <br />Richard Hollis is to be congratulated on writing and designing a book that will surely be regarded as the definitive study about the origins of the Swiss Style. <br /> <br /> <br />***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 The ‘Swiss style’ comes alive in this fascinating and very comprehensive study. If you design for print and ever wondered how some everyday graphic principles and typefaces originated the answer is in these pages. The story begins in twenties central Europe with a merging of modern art, the Bauhaus, Russian constructivism, craft printing techniques, photography and strong cultural attitudes in German speaking Zurich. All of these influences produced a graphic language of simplicity and directness that spread across Switzerland and one would expect nothing less from a country associated with order and precision.

Interesting as the text is I was particularly impressed with the several hundred illustrations (all with extensive captions) and as this is a book about a visual style and basically a printed one the choice of posters, examples of typography and many spreads from brochures, magazines, books all work well to complement the words.

I was interested in the several pages devoted to the magazine ‘Neue Grafik’ (New Graphic Design) which was the flagship publication of the Zurich modernists. It only ran for seventeen issues (from 1958 to a double issue seventeen and eighteen in 1965) but was really the only opportunity for designers outside Switzerland to see what was going on. Strangely, despite the design aiming for clarity, reading the issues was a bit of a chore. Three languages were set in each edition in one typeface and one size with paragraphs stretching sometimes to hundreds of words with no par indents or line space. However each spread looked fresh and lively thanks to the publication’s grid.

I think it is worth commenting on the book’s production. Designed by the author it uses a two column grid but nicely many pages just have one column of text and the space for the other text column is divided into two and used for illustrations and captions. The many variations of these column elements really make the pages sparkle and I think many publication designers could learn something by studying how the text and graphics blend together throughout the book.

Richard Hollis is to be congratulated on writing and designing a book that will surely be regarded as the definitive study about the origins of the Swiss Style.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click ‘customer images’ under the cover.

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Juanjo Rogado Albert http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-159 Juanjo Rogado Albert Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:35:42 +0000 http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-159 Una magnífica edición. Muchas imágenes, alguna un poco pequeña - para el tipo de imagen, se echa en falta quizá alguna imagen de detalle o incluso un encarte -, pero en líneas generales muy buena selección, y cantidad de imágenes. <br /> <br />Los contenidos interesantes, por tratarse de una generación histórica en el diseño gráfico universal. Es un libro muy recomendable. Rating: 5 / 5 Una magnífica edición. Muchas imágenes, alguna un poco pequeña – para el tipo de imagen, se echa en falta quizá alguna imagen de detalle o incluso un encarte -, pero en líneas generales muy buena selección, y cantidad de imágenes.

Los contenidos interesantes, por tratarse de una generación histórica en el diseño gráfico universal. Es un libro muy recomendable.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Rafe Copeland http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-158 Rafe Copeland Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:19:11 +0000 http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-158 This book goes into immense detail, with countless full colour reproductions of some of the seminal works in the development of Swiss graphic design. It is well laid out, and with large margins which hold thousands of tidbits of related background information; the information on many of the important designers in this movement is invaluable, and many of the reproductions are of rare works which aren't normally found in other books. <br /> <br />The text clearly and concisely sets out exactly how and why graphic design in Switzerland developed as it did. It is useful not only as a reference book with great insight into the period, but also as a book which is endlessly fascinating to just pick up and browse through. Highly recommended Rating: 5 / 5 This book goes into immense detail, with countless full colour reproductions of some of the seminal works in the development of Swiss graphic design. It is well laid out, and with large margins which hold thousands of tidbits of related background information; the information on many of the important designers in this movement is invaluable, and many of the reproductions are of rare works which aren’t normally found in other books.

The text clearly and concisely sets out exactly how and why graphic design in Switzerland developed as it did. It is useful not only as a reference book with great insight into the period, but also as a book which is endlessly fascinating to just pick up and browse through. Highly recommended
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: soph http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-157 soph Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:02:10 +0000 http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-157 I decided to purchase this book after watching the Helvetica DVD and was so inspired by Swiss design, I had to check out this book. I was not disappointed, pages of full colour images, and detailed explanations about the artwork and the designers intended communication. Fantastic resource for graphic design students! Rating: 5 / 5 I decided to purchase this book after watching the Helvetica DVD and was so inspired by Swiss design, I had to check out this book. I was not disappointed, pages of full colour images, and detailed explanations about the artwork and the designers intended communication. Fantastic resource for graphic design students!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: T. Archer http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-156 T. Archer Sun, 25 Apr 2010 03:21:05 +0000 http://www.pagesmith.net/46-swiss-graphic-design-the-origins-and-growth-of-an-international-style-1920-1965.html#comment-156 This is a nice, well made book. It's a great reference for designers or art directors that need to put a Swiss spin on things. Rating: 4 / 5 This is a nice, well made book. It’s a great reference for designers or art directors that need to put a Swiss spin on things.
Rating: 4 / 5

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