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ladislav sutnar
a compilation by michael morales
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famous works Ladislav Sutnar was the father of the current practice of information graphics (infographics). Sutnar developed graphics for a huge range of American businesses, that clarified large amounts of complex information, transforming business data into practical, readable amounts.
Air Cargo
A holiday card designed by Ladislav Sutnar. 1948–50.
Empire 1b pg. 4
Maxitorq
Tire Infographic
"Graphic design was forced to develop higher standards of performance to speed up the transmission of information."
( $#! ) “Design is evaluated as a process culminating in an entity which intensifies comprehension,”
In theIn early the 1920s early 1920s SutnarSutnar was was born born in in Pilsen Pilsen in in 1897 1897 and and finished finished his studies his studies concurrently concurrently at theat the PraguePrague SchoolSchool of Decorative of Decorative Arts, Charles Arts, Charles University University and and Czech Technical Czech Technical University, University, and by andthen by then he was he considered was considered a Modernist. a Modernist. In addition In addition to tab to tab and and grids, grids, Sutnar Sutnar made made common common punctuation, punctuation, such as such commas, as commas, colons and exclamation points, into linguistic linguistic traffic traffic signssigns by making by making themthem largelarge and and repeating repeating them. them. He claims He claims universality universality and heand he possessed possessed a graphic a graphic personality personality that thatwas wassosodistinctive distinctivefrom fromothers others practicing practicing thethe International International Style Style thatthat his work his work did did not not eveneven require require a credit a credit line, line, although although he always he always usedused one.one. Sutnar’s Sutnar’s difficulties difficulties with spoken with spoken EnglishEnglish as a second as a language second language speaks to speaks why his to why design his design was sowas straightforward. so straightforward. One of Onethe of the mostmost significant significant of Sutnar’s of Sutnar’s innovations innovations was the use wasof thespreads. use of Hespreads. was oneHe of was the first one designers of the to first design designers doubletospreads design double rather than
spreadsrather ratherthan thansingle singlepages. pages. spreads Likeother otherpioneer pioneerModernists, Modernists,hehe Like always believed that hadthe the always believed that hehehad rightanswers answersand andeveryone everyoneelse elsewas was right wrong. His philosophy is very clear wrong. His philosophy is very clear hiswords: words:“Good “Goodvisual visualdesign design bybyhis seriousininpurpose. purpose.ItsItsaim aimisisnot not isisserious to attain popular success by going to attain popular success by going backtotothe thenostalgia nostalgiaofofthe thepast, past,oror back by sinking to the infantile level by sinking to the infantile level ofofa a mythicalpublic publictaste. taste.ItItaspires aspirestoto mythical upliftthe thepublic publictotoananexpert expertdesign design uplift level. To inspire improvement and level. To inspire improvement and progressdemands demandsthat thatthe thedesigner designer progress perform to the fullest limits his perform to the fullest limits ofofhis ability.The Thedesigner designermust mustthink thinkfirst, first, ability. worklater.” later.”Sutnar Sutnarleft lefta alegacy legacy work of work and writing that prove of work and writing that prove hisvitality vitalityasasa adesigner designerand andhis his his passion for design. Many designers passion for design. Many designers areable abletotoclaim claimtotohave haveone oneoror are morepieces piecesinintheir theirlegacy, legacy,but butfew few more can claim, as Sutnar can, that these can claim, as Sutnar can, that these worksare areasasviable viabletoday todayasasthey they works were when first designed. Many were when first designed. Many designers—consciouslyorornot— not— designers—consciously haveborrowed borrowedhis hissignature style. style. have
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prague __ new york __ design in action exhibition 2003
Style sutnar's venus silkscreen series 1963
sutnar's venus silkscreen series 1963
Addo-X Swedish Adding Machine. 1958-1959