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Graphic Design History from Design Reviewed
Wim Crouwel

Wim Crouwel, Zang Ke Xin Bian Zhu, 2002

Classic works of European poster design masters: Wim Crowell

Details

  • Format Book
  • Designer/s Wim Crouwel
  • Year 2002
  • Client/Publisher People's Fine Arts Publishing House,
  • Size 188mm x 213mm
Wim Crouwel
Willem Hendrik Crouwel was born in 1928 in Groningen, Netherlands. He studied at the Academy of Arts and Crafts in Groningen and took evening classes at the Institute of Arts and Crafts, now the Rietveld Academy. His teacher, Charles Jongejans, was trained by notable Dutch designers Paul Schuitema and Gerard Kiljan. In 1952, Crouwel began his design career at Enderberg, designing exhibitions and trade stands, gaining valuable experience. After leaving Enderberg in 1956, he founded a studio with industrial designer Kho Liang Ie, working on various projects across design disciplines, including graphic and exhibition design. Influenced by mid-century Swiss typography, Crouwel explored letterforms and graphic systems, using fonts like Helvetica and Univers. His early clients included the Van Abbe Museum, where he designed catalogues and posters. In 1963, he co-founded the influential design agency Total Design and also started working for the Stedelijk Museum, collaborating with Edy de Wilde until 1986. Explore the Design Reviewed archive to discover artefacts connected to Wim Crouwel. The Dutch Modernism movement, the Netherlands and the 1960s and 1970s decade pages.

Linked Information

Wim Crouwel, Zang Ke Xin Bian Zhu, 2002
Wim Crouwel, Zang Ke Xin Bian Zhu, 2002

 

Wim Crouwel, Zang Ke Xin Bian Zhu, 2002
Wim Crouwel, Zang Ke Xin Bian Zhu, 2002
More graphic design artefacts
Wim Crouwel – Gerrit Noordzij Prize, Uitgeverij De Buitenkant, 2012

From the graphic design archive:

Wim Crouwel – Gerrit Noordzij Prize, Uitgeverij De Buitenkant, 2012

  • Format: Book
  • Designer/s: Wim Crouwel, David Quay (Book Design)
  • Year: 2012
View Artefact
11 Painters, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1976

From the graphic design archive:

11 Painters, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1976

  • Format: Exhibition Catalogue
  • Designer/s: Wim Crouwel and Daphne Duijvelschoff (Total Design)
  • Year: 1976
View Artefact
Jan Roeland, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1978

From the graphic design archive:

Jan Roeland, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1978

  • Format: Exhibition Catalogue
  • Designer/s: Wim Crouwel (Total Design)
  • Year: 1978
View Artefact
Rob van Koningsbruggen, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1979

From the graphic design archive:

Rob van Koningsbruggen, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1979

  • Format: Exhibition Catalogue
  • Designer/s: Wim Crouwel (Total Design)
  • Year: 1979
View Artefact

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Designers and Books Series – Sébastien Hayez

Designer Interview

Designers and Books Series – Sébastien Hayez

I have been reproached for this, and I will surely be reproached again. I have also been reproached for reading more and more obscure works whose readership must be limited to a handful of specialists and a few hobbyists like myself. It’s a heavy passion or a passion that sucks.

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Rob Walker (Signs by Umberto)- Precision, Craft and the Love of Letters

Designer Interview

Rob Walker (Signs by Umberto)- Precision, Craft and the Love of Letters

I have known Rob for over a decade and I have been a huge admirer of his work. He specialises in reverse gilded glass sign making, typographic murals and traditional sign-writing.

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Willem Sandberg – Life and Legacy

Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Regional Histories

Willem Sandberg – Life and Legacy

This 1,500 word essay is about the life and work of Willem Sandberg and is illustrated with part of my collection of over 100 pieces of Sandberg’s work, including books, Stedelijk Museum catalogues, and various individual printed items.

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