30 Years of Swiss Typographic Discourse

30 Years of Swiss Typographic Discourse in the Typografische Monatsblätter

The global influence of Swiss typography has been great, be it on posters, characters, logotypes, books or information systems.

Although this is accepted, quite how it became so prevalent – other than by being brilliant – is perhaps less well known.

30 Years of Swiss Typographic Discourse in the Typografische Monatsblätter

A new book, 30 Years of Swiss Typographic discourse in the Typografische Monatsblätter, puts it down to the culture of Swiss typography and its professional associations and networks, including the Schweizer Werkbund, the Swiss Federation of Typographers, the associations of lithographers, binders, graphic artists, their commissions and their publications. In essence, community.

To tell that story, the book takes a thorough look at one part of that community, the journal Typografische Monatsblätter, which it argues helped bring Swiss type to an international audience.

Cover designed by Wolfgang Weingart discussing the 'Why and how' of the 'Seeing, Reading and Learning' cover series
Cover designed by Wolfgang Weingart discussing the ‘Why and how’ of the ‘Seeing, Reading and Learning’ cover series

With more than 70 years worth of published material from the journal to choose from, the years 1960-1990 have been focused on.

These dates book-end a period of transition in which technology, socio-political contexts and aesthetic ideologies influenced both typography and graphic design.

An article about IT - an acronym for International Phone Book , and an expression used among information and advertisment producers
An article about IT – an acronym for International Phone Book , and an expression used among information and advertisment producers

The book features the work of well-known and lesser-known designers such as Emil Ruder, Helmut Schmid, Wolfgang Weingart, Hans-Rudolf Lutz, and Jost Hochuli.

Aaron Marcus created a series of experimental symbolic constructions where intricate forms are intricately knitted into grids, provided by graphic systems
Aaron Marcus created a series of experimental symbolic constructions where intricate forms are intricately knitted into grids, provided by graphic systems

It has been designed by Robert Huber and Louise Paradis, and edited by Louise Paradis with Roland Früh and François Rappo.

Clockwise - From 'Pioneers of 20th Century Typography' series, two posters created by Rosmarie Tissi, posters by Werner Jeker
Clockwise – From ‘Pioneers of 20th Century Typography’ series, two posters created by Rosmarie Tissi, posters by Werner Jeker

30 Years of Swiss Typographic Discourse in the Typografische Monatsblätter is priced £45.00 and published on 16 October by Lars Müller Publishers GmbH.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles