Late 1970s – Mid 1980s
An expressive and experimental reinterpretation of modernist principles, using layered typography, texture, and irregular grids.
New Wave was an expressive and experimental reinterpretation of modernist principles, using layered typography, texture, and irregular grids to push back against the rational certainties of Swiss Style. Emerging from Wolfgang Weingart’s teaching in Basel in the 1970s, it produced graphic work of visual complexity that influenced a generation of designers, including April Greiman and Katherine McCoy. The archive documents New Wave graphic design through designer profiles and printed matter from the movement.
Advertising Design, Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Regional Histories
This article is part of my ongoing effort to spotlight the unsung heroes of design history. I'm especially passionate about sharing voices and designs that have been overlooked or forgotten. In this piece, I focus on the work of 1980s American graphic designers, in particular, the women who broke boundaries and shaped American visual culture.
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Design Archive Feature, Members Only Content, Movements
A 1,500 essay on the transformative era of graphic design from the 1970s to the 1990s. Moving beyond the constraints of modernism, designers like Wolfgang Weingart and April Greiman redefined visual communication through bold experimentation with type, colour, and early computer graphics. This essay highlights how postmodernism and New Wave design introduced complexity, individuality, and digital innovation in to graphic design.
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Design Archive Feature, Magazines & Publishing, Members Only Content, Typography & Type Design
Gregory Vines' design and process behind the Typographische Monatsblätter 1978 covers. From the initial inspiration drawn from Bellinzona's gate to the process of film montage, resulting in six stunning cover masterpieces.
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Design Archive Feature, Designer Profiles, Members Only Content, Movements, Regional Histories
Wolfgang Weingart's artistic design delved into the intricacies of Swiss typography, skillfully dissecting its elements while venturing into texture and type experimentation. His layered montages radiated dynamic kinetic energy, standing in stark contrast to the minimalist approach of his instructors, embracing a more maximalist aesthetic.
Read ArticleExplore designers central to this movement including Wolfgang Weingart and Willi Kunz. See also Swiss graphic design history and 1970s graphic design history.
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
From the graphic design archive:
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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