Josef M端ller Brockmann
”
Josef M端ller-Brockmann - Pioneer of Swiss Graphic Design
Contents
07
Biography Works
11
“Watch that Child!”
13
Reppisch-Werke AG
15
June Festival
17
Musica Viva
19
New Graphic Design
21
Opernhaus Zürich
23
Hermes Typewriters
25
Helmhaus Zürich
27
Zürich Tonhalle
30
M.A.D Museum
06
Josef Müller-Brockmann
(1914 - 1996)
Josef Müller-Brockmann was born in Rapperswil, Switzerland in 1914 and studied architecture, design and history of art at the University of Zürich and at the city’s Kunstgewerbeschule. He began his career as an apprentice to the designer and advertising consultant Walter Diggelman.
In 1936, Josef Müller-Brockmann established his own Zürich studio specialising in graphics, exhibition design and photography. By the 1950s he was established as the leading practitioner and theorist of Swiss Style, which sought a universal graphic expression through a grid-based design purged of extraneous illustration and subjective feeling.
“ The greatest works of art impress through their balance, their harmony, their proportions, all of which can be measured. ” From 1957 to 1960, he was the professor of graphic design at the Kunstgewerbeschule, Zürich and guest lecturer at the University of Osaka from 1961 and the Hochschule fur Gestaltung, Ulm from 1963.
“ Creativity is innate in everyone. ” From 1967 he was European design consultant for IBM. He is the author of The Graphic Artist and his Design Problems (1961), History of Visual Communication (1971), History of the Poster (with Shizuko Muller-Yoshikawa, 1971) and Grid to many symposiums. In 1987 he was awarded a gold medal for his cultural contribution by the State of Zürich.
Portrait
07
M端ller-Brockmann Portrait
“
I became
a graph by acciden
hic designer nt.
�
10
“Schützt das Kind!” (Watch that Child!) is his first poster to use the photomontage technique. The dramatic confrontation of speeding motor-cycle and vulnerable child makes an unambiguous and forceful pictorial statement.
Schützt das Kind!
Campaign poster - 1953
11
Swiss Automobile Club “Watch that Child!”
12
“ Illu stra tions
are always understood as
an artistic product, a subjective statement. �
Cover of brochure - 1959
13
Reppisch-Werke AG
14
“ Photo gra phy
is a credible reflection of reality that enables me to make an objective statement. �
Program poster - 1957
15
June Festival Program for the Stadttheater
16
“
I became“ Emotion in images,
but in
ad ver tising
I value as much objectivity as possible. ”
can produce genuine works of art,
Concert poster - 1957
17
Musica Viva
18
M端ller-Brockman was the founder and co-editor of the trilingual journal Neue Grafik (New Graphic Design) which spread the principles of Swiss Design internationally. The magazine had a high international reputation and was the mouthpiece of Swiss Graphic Design.
Neue Grafik
Cover of publication - 1955
19
New Graphic Design
20
Opernhaus Z端rich
Small poster - 1964
21
Opernhaus Z端rich
22
Müller-Brockmann’s development in the late 40s can be seen in the advertisements for Hermes Typewriters. They were printed in a trade magazine in 1949, almost “back to back” with strictly constructive examples of Hans Neuburg’s industrial graphics.
Hermes Typewriters
Advertisement poster - 1945
23
Hermes Typewriters
24
In Mßller-Brockmann’s designs for posters, advertisements, brochures and exhibitions, subjectivity is suppressed in favour of a geometric grid that determines the arrangement of the type and images. The grid is an organisational system that makes it easier to read the message.
Helmhaus ZĂźrich
Exhibition poster - 1953
25
Helmhaus Z端rich
26
The “musicality” of the design of the “Beethoven poster” was well retained; the combination of constructed figure and composer’s name not only evokes immediate associations with music in general but also with Beethoven in particular. Müller-Brockmann’s treatment of the picture plane and its typography showed an affinity with the artistic spirit of concrete art.
Zürich Tonhalle
Concert poster - 1955
27
Zürich Tonhalle
“Beethoven”
“
I would advise young people to
look at everything they enc and try to find a better solu
counter in a critical light ution.
Then I would urge them at all times to
be self-critical. �
30 Museum of Art & Design Founder, Ms Jasmine Tay boldly introduces a brand new concept for Singapore, opening her first private Museum of Art & Design (M.A.D) in the heart of Orchard Road. MAD is the destination for not only art purists and buyers but also to those who can appreciate the influence of art and design on our every day life. Jasmine hopes that MAD will stand apart from the rest by being a place that above everything else- genuinely prioritises the appreciation of art for the sake of art. This is why the focus is on making art accessible and nurturing a new generation to admire art as well as have the opportunity to experience art as it is for the exclusive niche of buyers and dealers.