c. 1920–1945
Commercial Modernism describes the productive middle ground between historical ornament and the emerging avant-garde that characterised graphic design in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland during the interwar years.
As advertising, packaging, and corporate communication expanded rapidly, a generation of designers developed a clean, accessible visual language that absorbed lessons from the Sachplakat movement, Art Deco, and early Constructivism.
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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Movements, Advertising Design, Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content
Art Deco graphic design history: its Paris origins, key pioneers Cassandre, Carlu and McKnight Kauffer, and how the style evolved across Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US.
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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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Advertising Design, Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content
Joseph Binder translated machine-age aesthetics into refined Art Deco compositions. These magazine covers have become prime examples of American commercial modernism.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design
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.
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Advertising Design, Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content
A 1925 article on Karl Schulpig, originally in German and published in Archiv für Buchgewerbe und Gebrauchsgraphik, March 1925.
Read ArticleDesigners like Lucian Bernhard, O.H.W. Hadank, and Walter Riemer worked for major commercial clients producing work that was modern in its economy and direct.
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Members Only Content, Designer Profiles
A 1939 article on American designer, Walter Frank Bomar, published in The Inland Printer, Vol 104, No. 03, 1939.
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Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Ephemera, Illustration, Members Only Content
Beyond his books, Dick Bruna's vivid colour and simplified forms found their way onto posters, packaging, murals and stamps, many of which feature in my growing collection.
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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
Read Article
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.
Read Article
Regional Histories, Ephemera, Illustration, Members Only Content
A collected visual record of the Kanto, Chubu and Tohoku Lottery tickets.
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Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Movements
April Greiman is known for her experimental approach to graphic design, her role in the development of Californian New Wave and being one of the first designers to fully embrace the computer in her work.
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