Join the Mailing List

Membership

Category: Poster Design

Articles on the history of poster design rom German Sachplakat to Polish school posters, Swiss modernist typography, and the great poster designers of the twentieth century.

The poster is one of graphic design’s most enduring and celebrated formats. These articles explore the history of poster design through the collection from the German Sachplakat tradition and Swiss modernist typography to the Polish school and the great poster designers of the mid-twentieth century.

Articles Related to Poster Design

Membership from £2.49/month unlocks articles researched and inspired by the artefacts in the collection.

Become a member →

Members Content

Poster for cigarette designs by Michael Engelmann
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Posters from the 1961/62 Best German Posters Awards (Die besten Plakate des Jahres)

One of the main features in Gebrauchsgraphik 08, 1962 is focused on the 1961/62 annual poster awards in Germany. Over 400 posters were submitted to the awards.

Members Content

Film poster designed by Hans Hillman
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Posters from the 1962/63 Best German Posters Awards (Die besten Plakate des Jahres)

One of the main features in Gebrauchsgraphik 08, 1963 is focused on the 1962/63 annual poster awards in Germany. Over twenty posters were awarded by the Association of German Commercial Artists.

Members Content

Poster for Civil Defense designed by Hanswerner Klein
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Posters from the 1963/64 Best German Posters Awards (Die besten Plakate des Jahres)

Gebrauchsgraphik 08, 1964 features a selection of the German Posters entered into the 1963/64 awards. 22 posters were awarded by the Association of German Commercial Artists and the awards showcased some of the best poster designs of the year, that still remain effective and stylish today.

Members Content

Poster designed by FHK Henrion in 1944
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design

A brief summary on the Poster Designer’s Task by Prof. H. K. Frenzel, 1930s/40s

A brief summary of a poster designer’s tasks from the late 1930s. I have illustrated the article with a selection of scanned posters from Cooper’s book.

Members Content

Poster design by Hanns Lohrer. C. 1940s. Scanned from Gebrauchsgraphik, 01, 1951
  • Design Archive Feature, Illustration, Members Only Content, Poster Design

Hanns Lohrer. Award-winning posters and illustrations from Gebrauchsgraphik, 01, 1951

In 1949, the Bund Deutscher Gebrauchsgraphiker held the first Die besten Plakate des Jahres competition to showcase top German poster design. Hanns Lohrer was one of eight award winners. Designs scanned from Gebrauchsgraphik, 01, 1951.

Members Content

Scanned Posters designed by Michele Spera
  • Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Poster Design

Scanned Posters Designed by Michele Spera

Scanned posters by the great Michele Spera. Many use a strong use of geometric form, often paired with sans-serif typefaces like Helvetica. Their simplification of form and use of colour create timeliness, recognisable posters that would have stood out alongside the posters of the 1970s which tended to have a heavy use of photography.

Members Content

"Kissho, Shofuku, Hanjo" Tadanori Yokoo's Silkscreen Poster Exhibition in 1997
  • Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

“Kissho, Shofuku, Hanjo” Tadanori Yokoo’s Silkscreen Poster Exhibition in 1997

In 1997 Tadanori Yokoo showcased 31 new silkscreens at the Ginza Graphic Gallery in Tokyo. Many of these works were previously unseen, and I was fortunate enough to discover a feature in a back issue of Idea magazine that showcased the full collection of silkscreen posters. 

Members Content

Bundesministerium für Post und Telekommunikation, Poster, 1956 designed by Hans Schweiss. Scanned from Gebrauchsgraphik 06, 1956
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Posters from the 1956 Best German Posters Awards (Die besten Plakate des Jahres)

Gebrauchsgraphik 06, 1956 features a selection of the German Posters entered into the 1956 awards. It is unknown how many entries were submitted to the 1956 awards but a total of 21 posters were awarded.

Members Content

2000 PX
  • Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

The 1920s design work of Joseph Binder

Joseph Binder established his studio, Wiener Graphik, in Vienna. One of the first clients was the City of Vienna’s Music and Theater Festival, followed by many other posters and logos for clients in Austria and beyond.

Members Content

25 years of Swiss poster art, 1941 to 1965
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

25 years of Swiss poster art, 1941 to 1965

“Der Druckspiegel” typographic supplement May 5, 1967, was focused on a selection of the winning entries from Die besten Plakate des Jahres featuring over fifty winning entries.

Members Content

National-Zeitung SA Basel designed by Gerstner + Kutter, Basel in 1960
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Swiss Posters from the 1960 Best Poster Award (Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1960)

The 1960 awards presented 420 poster entries from Swiss designers. Notable winners included Robert Büchler's typographic poster for the Museum of Applied Arts Basel and J. Müller-Brockmann’s Der Film poster for the Museum of Applied Arts and Gerstner + Kutter's asymmetric typographic poster for National-Zeitung SA Basel.

Members Content

Olivetti (Suisse) SA Zürich designed by Ernst Hiestand, Zürich in 1961
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Swiss Posters from the 1961 Best Poster Award (Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1961)

As part of an ongoing series showcasing Swiss poster designs from the 1950s and 1960s, this article features 1961 poster entries of Die besten Plakate des Jahres (The Best Posters of the Year) 1961. Originating in 1941, Die besten Plakate des Jahres initially served as a platform for the evaluation and showcase of Swiss posters.

Members Content

Schweiz. Konferenz für Sicherheit im Strassenverkehr Bern. designed by Hans Hartmann, Bern in 1963
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Swiss Posters from the 1963 Best Poster Award (Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1963)

Forward and a selection of poster designs entered to the Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1963. Featuring the work of Hans Hartmann, Jörg Hamburger, Jost Hochuli, and Armin Hofmann.

Members Content

Polizeidepartement Basel-Stadt designed by Moritz Zwimpfer, Basel in 1958
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Swiss Posters from the 1958 Best Poster Award (Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1958)

A selection of poster designs from Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1958 with a translated foreword by Maria Netter. Featuring the work of Müller-Brockmann, Celestino Piatti, Donald Brun and Armin Hofmann.

Members Content

BKG Basler Konsum-Gesellschaft Basel designed by Celestino Piatti, Riehen in 1957
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Swiss Posters from the 1957 Best Poster Award (Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1957)

The best poster designs from Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1957 with a translated foreword by Walter Kern. Featuring the work of J. Müller-Brockmann, Gottlieb Soland, Mary Vieira and Celestino Piatti.

Members Content

Genossenschaft USOGAS Zürich designed by Donald Brun, Basel, 1956
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Swiss Posters from the 1956 Best Poster Award (Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1956)

The best poster designs from Die besten Plakate des Jahres 1956 with a translated foreword by Jakob Rudolf Welti. Featuring the work of Herbert Leupin, Carl B. Graf, Carlo Vivarelli and Emil Ruder.

Members Content

Ballet 71, Staatsheater Kassel, 1971. Designed by Karl Oskar Blase
  • Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Poster Design

The Poster Designs of Karl Oskar Blase

Blase’s long-term clients were Staatstheater Kassel (Kassel State Theater) and Atlas Films. Karl Oskar Blase produced countless posters for these two organisations. It’s not surprising considering Blase designed posters for the Staatstheater for twelve years between 1966 and 1978. 

Members Content

Armin Hofmann, Stadttheater Basel, 1961, Scanned from Gebrauchsgraphik, 4, 1962
  • Design Archive Feature, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Armin Hofmann and the Stadttheater Basel by Jürg Federspiel, 1962

Armin Hofmann's publicity for the Stadttheater Basel. The client, in this case, the Municipal Theater of Basel, refused to listen to narrow-minded critics, in spite of the fact that as a state-subsidized enterprise it is accountable to public opinion.
Poster for the film «The Little Truant» designed by Hans Hillmann, 1960
  • Design Archive Feature, Poster Design, Regional Histories

German Posters, 1960 by Erich Pfeiffer-Belli

Every year the 20 best posters are selected in Germany and once more brought to the attention of the public. We do not publish all the twenty posters today; instead we add some which failed to be distinguished and which nevertheless are distinguished.
Typographical Poster for an Exhibition of Present Day Photography by Walter Dexel
  • Design Archive Feature, Movements, Poster Design, Typography & Type Design

New Paths in Poster Work, 1931 by Jan Tschichold

In minor printed matter we constantly meet the new typography, but it is relatively rare to find posters designed on the new lines. And yet poster-designing is a field where new typographical methods might be employed with great effect.

Members Content

Analysis of Paris Poster Hoardings - Photograph by Maywald, Paris.
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

A 1938 Analysis of Paris Poster Hoardings by Dr. E. G. Paulus

The Paris Poster Hoardings of 1938. Posters gleam forth accentuating the melody of this city as they direct the eye to articles of everyday use and above all to people who are the talk of the hour.

Members Content

Gebrauchsgraphik, 5, 1961 copy 3
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

The selected poster designs for the Swiss Posters of 1960 award

The Best Swiss Posters Award was an annual competition, judged by a Swiss Jury. They selected a range of posters, showcasing a range of poster styles from completely typographic designs such as the work of Robert Büchler, to the illustrated posters of Donald Brun.

Members Content

Juan Carlos Distefano, Exhibition Catalogue
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories

Juan Carlos Distefano and the Design and Publicity for the Instituto di Tella, Buenos Aires

Juan Carlos Distéfano is an Argentinian artist, designer and teacher. He designed a range of posters, programmes brochures and book covers alongside Juan Andralis, Humberto Rivas and Roberto Alvarado for the Instituto di Tella, Buenos Aires.

Members Content

Black and white Easter March poster
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories, Studios & Collectives

Posters and Publicity by Ken Briggs and Ian McLaren

Ian McLaren and Ken Briggs produced exceptional work for a range of clients in the arts and culture sector. Their client included CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament), The National Theatre and the Arts Council.

Members Content

Posters for the Shell Service Stations by Frank Eidlitz
  • Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories, Studios & Collectives

Arrows of Advertising – An Australian Shell Poster Campaign designed by Frank Eidlitz

A total of 24 posters were created for the campaign during 1964, using the arrow symbol as a key features, representing power, motion and speed. The handmade lithographs use up to 19 colours, which were individually printed at large scale. The posters also utilise the brand colours red and yellow from Shells corporate identity.

More from Design Reviewed

Members Content

142nd Tokyo Metropolitan Lottery, Children in a Helicopter with Carp Streamer, Japanese Lottery Ticket, 1957 Cover
  • Ephemera, Illustration, Members Only Content

70 Japanese Lottery Tickets from 1956 – 1985

A mixed set of tickets from various Japanese lotteries dating from 1956 to 1985, including the Tokyo Metropolitan, West Japan and National Local Autonomy lotteries.

Members Content

The Face, Electro, No 49, May 1984. Designed by Neville Brody
  • Magazines & Publishing, Members Only Content, Typography & Type Design

Neville Brody and the Face magazine

The Face shocked the world of magazines, and the design industry, with its revolutionary design by Neville Brody.

Members Content

Walter Frank Bomar - Resorts - Woman Playing Tennis, 1939
  • Designer Profiles, Members Only Content

Walter Frank Bomar, scanned from The Inland Printer, Vol 104, No. 03, 1939

A 1939 article on American designer, Walter Frank Bomar, published in The Inland Printer, Vol 104, No. 03, 1939.