c. 1940s – mid 1960s
A design movement shaped by postwar optimism, emphasising simplicity, geometric forms, and functional clarity. Often using clean sans-serif typography, bold colour and photographic imagery.
Mid-Century Modernism in graphic design was shaped by postwar optimism, emphasising simplicity, geometric forms, and clarity, from the late 1940s through to the mid-1960s. Spanning American, European, and Japanese design practice. The corporate identity programmes of Paul Rand, the film posters of Saul Bass, the exhibition catalogues of Willem Sandberg, and the advertising work of Giovanni Pintori for Olivetti are great examples. The archive documents mid-century modernism through poster work, publication design, corporate identity, and the printed ephemera of the period’s commercial culture. See also International Typographic Style and 1950s graphic design history.
Advertising Design, Design Archive Feature, Ephemera, Members Only Content
A collection of matchbox labels from around the world. Graphic design history of one of advertising's smallest and most overlooked formats.
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Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content
Bob Salpeter was trained by Paul Rand at IBM and educated in New York, at the School of Visual Arts and the School of Industrial Art. Salpeter went on to build an extensive and impressive career working with clients such as the American Museum of Natural History, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the American Cancer Society, Scott Printing and IBM.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content
Westvaco Inspirations was founded in 1925 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. Bradbury Thompson’s produced approximately sixty issues, experimenting with typography, photography, and illustrations.
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Advertising Design, Members Only Content, Regional Histories
Following on from my previous articles on post-war Italian publicity design, an additional annual from 1962-63 showcases more examples of Italian advertising.
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Advertising Design, Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Regional Histories
The clear, rational, and functional design of 1960s industrial design brochures.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories
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.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories
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.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Poster Design, Regional Histories
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.
Read ArticleExplore designers central to this era including Saul Bass, Bradbury Thompson, Erik Nitsche, and Max Bill. See also International Typographic Style and 1950s graphic design history.
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Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Ephemera, 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
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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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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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Illustration, Ephemera, Members Only Content, Regional Histories
A collected visual record of the first eight years of Japan’s Rural Medical Care Promotion Lottery.
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