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TYPED - MAGAZINE
IMAGE: Hudiana, NP. (n.d.). Workflow. http://nhudiana1.workflow.arts.ac.uk/wim-crouwel-and-henriette-vaant-hoog. Retrieved on 21/06/17.
Modernist Typographer Dutch designer Wim Crouwel is renowned for his experimental typography and stunning grid based designs. His design style is deeply rooted in modernism which can be seen in his measured and systematic approach to design which relies heavily on a grid based structure. Crouwel is well known for his experimental, modular letter-forms such as Architype Ingenieur, Architype Vierkant and the New Alphabet. The New Alphabet pushes the parameters of legibility which brought criticism from other strict Modernist designers. Crouwel believes that legibility is of great importance but not at the expense of the overall aesthetics of a design. This is reflected in his creation of the New Alphabet letter-forms which are more about aesthetics and less about overall legibility.
My favourite letter is the letter ‘A’ In a recorded interview Wim discusses how he is in some ways envious of young graphic designers of today with all the technology they have at their disposal. Yet on the flip side he is not because he believes it is far more difficult to find your way now than it was in his day and age. His words of advice to all new designers is to “find your own way”. Keep your radar out, keep searching for what is important to you and develop your own style. Wim Crouwel has spent a lifetime designing, teaching and sharing his passion for letter-forms in design. He is quoted as saying; “My favourite letter is the letter ‘A’”. There is no doubt that his design style has influenced many designers over the decades and perhaps turned many designers away from strict grid based design theories. One thing that is for sure, grid based design is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and makes light work of publishing, but whether it leads to predictable and bland designs is up to the eye of the beholder. There is certainly a lot to be learned from modernism with regard to making the grid and breaking the grid.
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