German graphic design history explored through artefacts, posters, and articles on designers, studios, and the evolution of European visual communication.
Germany stands at the centre of twentieth century graphic design history. From the Bauhaus and the New Typography through to the posters documented in the annual Die besten Plakate des Jahres awards. The archive holds a large collection of German graphic design, including scanned covers of Gebrauchsgraphik and Der Druckspiegel spanning several decades, alongside profiles of German designers.
Membership from £2.49/month unlocks articles researched and inspired by the artefacts in the collection.
Members Only Content, Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles
An article on Valentin Zietara , originally in German, published in Gebrauchsgraphik, 10, 1930, written by H K Frenzel translated by E. T. Scheffauer
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Members Only Content, Designer Profiles, Studios & Collectives
A 1903-1904 article on Die Steglitzer Werkstatt, originally in German, published in Deutsche Kunst und Dekoration, Vol. XIII, October 1903–March 1904.
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Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content
A 1936 article on Ludwig Hohlwein, originally in German, published in Graphische Nachrichten, Vol 13, 11, November 1934
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Design Archive Feature, Design Education, Magazines & Publishing, Members Only Content
Across Europe, industry unions and trade journals shaped the professionalisation of graphic design between 1890 and 1930. Journals such as Typografia, Das Plakat, The Penrose Annual and Typographische Jahrbucher.
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Movements, Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content
Art Nouveau spread through magazine covers across Europe, from the German Jugend to the Czech Typografia, and regional variations shaped the movement's visual style in print.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content
An overview of graphic design in 1900, exploring Art Nouveau, the Eckmann-Schrift typeface, the Steglitz Workshop, the Doves Press and more, illustrated with artefacts from the Design Reviewed archive.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content
German printer's plates from the early 1900s revealing how commercial graphic design shifted from Jugendstil ornament to modern identity design.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Typography & Type Design
A 1928 article on typographic carnival posters, originally in German, published in Typographische Mitteilungen, Vol 25, No 02, February 1928
Read ArticleExplore designers central to German graphic design including Hans Hillmann, Otl Aicher, HAP Grieshaber, and Gunter Rambow. See also Bauhaus and 1920s graphic design history.
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