Published
12 October 2011
The NASA Design Program
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Design Program is a modernist vision for an optimistic future. The logo (often referred to as the "worm") evokes qualities of unity, technical precision, scientific capabilities and uniqueness. Reduced to its simplest form; the one width, continuous-stroke letters are as contemporary today as when the logo was first introduced by partners, Richard Danne and Bruce Blackburn of Danne & Blackburn (New York, NY) more than 37 years ago. Read More
Published
17 August 2011
World Design Conference in Tokyo 1960
1960 was a momentous year in the history of Japanese graphic design. Supported by the Japanese Government, Tokyo hosted the World Design Conference (WoDeCo) from May 11th to May 16th, introducing an enthusiastic group of Japanese designers, architects and industrial designers with their counterparts from Europe and the United States to discuss the theme “Total Image for the 20th Century”. Read More
Published
12 May 2011
Collecting History
Collections tell stories. Often, they represent a personal narrative or reveal some interesting character traits of the collector. We are collectors of a different sort. Although the act of collecting is a personal journey, our graphic design collection is not a preview into our lives or our history. Rather, the collection is a way for us to gain valuable insight into another history – a critical period of graphic design. Read More
Published
22 September 2010
Graphic Design Magazines - Part One
From the rational to the experimental to the playful – these important graphic design magazines represent a distinct point of view about mid-century graphic design, typography and beyond. Through thoughtful (sometimes critical) articles and opinions, book reviews, visually stimulating design and the introduction of important, lesser-known designers, these magazines successfully documented contemporary and historical German, Italian, Japanese and Swiss design to new, international audiences. Read More
Published
02 August 2010
TM Covers Designed by Yves Zimmermann
In 1959 (published in 1960), Yves Zimmermann (b. 1937, Basel) designed a captivating series of seven, black and white, text-only covers for Typographische Monatsblätter, however, only two issue’s: No. 1, January and No. 2, February were actually published. The remaining five (March, April, May, June, July), were apparently, too controversial. Read More
Published
10 June 2010
Matthew Leibowitz: Visual Translator
Born in Philadelphia on August 21, 1918, Matthew Leibowitz’s family had emigrated from Eastern Europe. Leibowitz studied at night in the certificate program at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now The University of the Arts). He was intelligent, a fastidious dresser, an aficionado of puns, prolific and hardworking. At the time he was studying for his degree, he was already working at the established advertising firm, Gray & Rogers. Read More
Published
17 January 2010
Bob Noorda 1927–2010
A tribute to a legendary designer whose work has contributed a great deal to the artistic and cultural development of his adopted city of Milan - and beyond. Noorda's enduring design work demonstrates the importance of building a corporate identity based on value and utility, not merely aesthetics. His prolific contributions to graphic design will continue to have an influence and be recognized. Read More
Published
15 January 2010
Massimo Vignelli on Bob Noorda
Back in the early 60s Bob Noorda was the designer in Milano with whom I wanted to be most associated. His famous work for Milano's Metropolitana was of the highest standard. We started our friendship by driving to Venice every week to teach graphic design at the School of Industrial Design. That experience and that closeness cemented our friendship and in 1965 we decided to join our offices; that is when, with some other friends in Chicago, we started Unimark International. Read More
Published
04 January 2010
The New Typography Exhibition at MoMA
"The New Typography is distinguished from the old by the fact that its first objective is to develop its visible form out of the functions of the text. It is essential to give pure and direct expression to the contents of whatever is printed: just as in the works of technology and nature, 'form' must be created out of function. Only then can we achieve a typography which expresses the spirit of modern man." Read More
Published
16 December 2009
Design Pioneer: Lora Lamm
In the written history of mid-century Italian and Swiss Graphic Design, Lora Lamm's name is often overlooked. Although born in Arosa, Switzerland in 1928, Lamm was a major contributor to the adventurous design coming out of Milan during the 1950s and 1960s. Her role as a pioneering woman designer is an inspiration and her body of graphic design work is the legacy of a creative spirit. Read More
Display documents mid-20th century, modern graphic design history through a curated collection, feature articles and bookstore.
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