REBEL PRINTS —The— Poster Rex
LARS HARMSEN MARKUS LANGE
TALKS 1—32
SESSIONS 33—192
POSTERS 193—240
SREENS 241—286
EVERY NEW JOB IS A “NEW PROBLEM” — LIKE A PUZZLE TO SOLVE — AND THAT KEEPS ME WANTING TO CRACK IT
ARIANE SPANIER BERLIN
Ariane Spanier designs whatever sounds interesting and fun. For many years she designs and co-edits the annual Magazine for Contemporary Drawing FUKT magazine. Ariane is a member of AGI Alliance Graphique Internationale. arianespanier.com @arianespanier
A writer who does not write will sooner or later become depressed. Do you have to design? What else makes you happy?
Staring at the ocean, taking a walk in nature, watching a great movie, meeting friends would also make me happy but yes, it seems I have to “design” to stay sane. When time for that is taken away from me, as happened a lot in the first part of the pandemic, when we had to homeschool our kids, I got more and more frustrated. And it wasn’t just about meeting deadlines or getting a job finished. I didn’t get enough time to spend with the thing I like to do. It’s almost as if it’s inducing fear and restlessness.
Museums show what we are supposed to like. In doing so, they exercise power. In an antithesis to this model, visitors set up their own museum. What is in your “museum”?
Great question! I think my museum would show a wild mix of very different things. Art installations that mess with your perception, daily objects from the past, historical paintings and stuffed animals, maybe prehistoric landscapes or the surface of mars or the moon we could walk on and through, documentaries about all kinds of subjects, playful interactive art or design pieces that also kids like, old design objects and historic graphic design work you could only look at through telescopes sometimes these themes would overlap and interfere with each other in ways you haven’t seen before. I remember one particular weird museum in Paris, the museum of hunting: it was a mix of stuffed animals and hunting equipments and sceneries, but in each room contemporary artists had messed with these objects. The bear would make strange noises or move its eyes, the little postcard you discovered would show fantasy animals — it was full of fun surprises and strange discoveries in every corner, I highly recommend it.
Mirko Ilić says: “I’ve always felt that my design needs to be against something. This is probably because I grew up where I grew up.” What had / has the biggest impact on your work and the way you design?
For me design is more about fun and joy and discoveries, that’s my path into a subject, it makes me spend time and effort. It isn’t easy. Sometimes of
course I just want to create something that is simply beautiful and nothing more. Which is equally difficult. Every new job is a “new problem” — like a puzzle to solve and that keeps me wanting to crack it.
Do you believe in collaborative work?
Yes and no. I feel the correct answer of today should be a yes. But there is more to it. I cannot properly think “together” with other people. For instance, I hate brainstorming. I need to think for myself first. Once there is an idea I am very open to discuss it, change it or go another way if someone brings in other angles. So here would come the “yes.” However, if a process is set up as collaborative from the beginning, it is something else, if the result only works because it is done together, it’s really fun. Obviously there are ways of collaboration where different expertises are brought together that in no way could be done alone. The emotional satisfaction of achievement in a group context can be immense, but it only works well if the collaborators are either experts in different fields or if the process is set up in the right way.
Social media, especially Instagram is full of poster designs, mostly as mock-ups. Showcase or bullshit?
Both: works as showcase if you miss out on the right client. But that poster can of course still be bullshit.
Against the backdrop of digitalization, is there a future for the printed poster at all or will it disappear from public space?
There will be more screens first until the energy crisis in 2029. Then posters will rise again. But seriously, I think there is no way digitalization could be stopped; the path is clear, but I think the awareness of the fragility of digital mediums the potential for it all go dark if a plug is pulled — might prevent analog mediums to vanish fully. There are reasons we can still look at books hundreds of years old. Cave paintings that are 10,000s of years old. Digital isn’t made to last, albeit it’s our reality.
What role do poster festivals play? Do you think posters have educational / formative purposes for designers?
To me they are like art exhibitions for designers. There is never harm in looking at works of art or
EDWIN VAN GELDER MAINSTUDIO AMSTERDAM
Edwin is an independent graphic designer based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After graduating from Utrecht School of the Arts in 2005, he founded graphic design studio Mainstudio. Here Edwin leads the creative development of various national and international projects in editorial design, books and visual identities. mainstudio.com — @mainstudio
A writer who does not write will sooner or later become depressed. Do you have to design? What else makes you happy?
Yes, it’s addictive. The moment you have found a “design solution” for a project is an eureka moment. This is what keeps me going.
The urge to create something which lasts and create a “better (design) world” is a fundamental value to be a designer. Architecture, music, and art also makes me happy because it inspires me to my profession.
Mirko Ilić says: “I’ve always felt that my design needs to be against something. This is probably because I grew up where I grew up.” What had and has the biggest impact on your work and the way you express yourself design-wise?
I grew up in a small village surrounded by nature. We had lot’s of materials and possibilities to build stuff like a plane, a boat, a tree house, a bunker and a parachute. For me architecture and art are the biggest sources of inspiration. I see graphic design as architecture. A book is also a house with a routing, the table of content is the hallway where you can navigate in many different ways and read different narratives.
Do you believe in collaborative work?
Yes, especially cross disciplinary. The different views upon a topic; technical, threedimensional, editorial etc. That’s why I like to collaborate with developers, architects and photographers. Regarding digitalization, is there a future for the poster at all or will it disappear from public space?
POSTERS WILL ALWAYS BE THERE, BUT THEY WILL BECOME MORE OF A NICHE. THE ART VALUE WILL ONLY BE MORE IMPOR TANT AS COMMERCIAL POSTERS WILL DISAPPEAR.
Do printers and workshops play an important role in the creative process today? How important it is the connection to the printer for you?
Printers and designers should collaborate, like in the past when they shared the same studio space. Especially with posters it is really important to experiment with printing as well. Iris print, metallic ink, screen print, risograph etc.
What is the better strategy: sarcasm or humor?
I GUESS HUMOR, SARCASM IS OUTDATED. FOR BEING A GOOD DESIGNER YOU NEED PREFERABLY BOTH TALENT AND CHARACTER!
Do you ignore past successes or do you build on them?
I don’t build on them specifically, but within the network, local and global it brings you further. What are your tricks to make a poster work?
A clear concept and limitations were you can play with, thinking about size, color, forms, typography. A poster should always have a strong “image” something that’s a bit in your face … boom!
Never give up playing. Forget about the fear of failure. Any other advices you would give to the next generation?
Find your own “voice” and don’t get too much influenced by social media.
“
A POSTER SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A STRONG “ IMAGE.” SOMETHING THAT’S A BIT IN YOUR FACE … BOOM!
EDWIN VAN GERLDER
RENE WAWRZKIEWICZ WARSAW
Rene Wawrzkiewicz is a graphic designer and design curator. He is a co-founder of the The Polish Graph ic Design Awards. He is the curator and coordinator of numerous initiatives and projects connected with Polish graphic design, including a series of exhibitions entitled “Design for Freedom, Freedom in Design” in Berlin, Tokyo, and Stockholm, the “Graphic Knowledge Fair” (a graphic design festival), “PGDWeek” (presentations of Polish visual designers on the conferences), “TypoPolo” and “The Polish Exhibition of Graphic Symbols” (exhibitions in Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw).
polishgraphicdesign.com — @renewaw
A writer who does not write will sooner or later become depressed. Do you have to design? What else makes you happy?
Design consists in creating and conveying information and emotions. Everything we do can be design. Design is more than creating visual artifacts. Design consists in working with a variety of tools and media.
Social media, especially Instagram is full of poster designs, mostly as mock-ups. Showcase or bullshit?
A poster on social media is not a poster. It is a graphic on the Internet. Something different, although similar. Such a graphic is neither better nor worse than a poster. It is simply a different medium. A poster is an object seen by a person in physical space.
Regarding digitalization, is there a future for the poster at all or will it disappear from public space?
THE POSTER IS LIKE THE VINYL RECORD. IT WILL STAY WITH US, BUT IT WILL BE RARE AND IT WILL NOT BE TARGETED AT EVERYONE.
What role do poster festivals play? Do you think poster still help in the education of designers.
The poster as a simple form constitutes an excellent visual exercise for young designers. But one should not stop at this exercise, and it is important to learn other things as well. Do you need to be a rebel to design a political poster?
PROFESSIONAL
CREATE PROPAGANDA.
GOOD POLITICAL GRAPHICS ARE MADE BY DEDICATED ORDINARY PEOPLE.
“Political” largely means it is dependent on the changing events of our times for its content. In this context, is design activism?
Designing is an activity within a particular social and economic system. In this sense, every design act is political. It is a mistake to call only a small part of designers’ professional activity political. It allows this profession to be relativized and makes it possible to hide the principal part of professional design in the shadows.
Why should we see if we don’t think?
THE BRAIN RECEIVES 80 PERCENT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORLD THROUGH SIGHT. OUR THINKING IS DETERMINED BY WHAT WE SEE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE.
PETER BANKOV PRAGUE — MOSCOW
Peter Bankov, born into a family of artists in Minsk, is a versatile creative based in Prague. Trained ini tially as a sculptor in Minsk and later in Moscow as a book designer and illustrator, Bankov has earned international recognition for his design work. He has received numerous awards and serves as a panel member for prestigious contests worldwide. His art graces private collections in Moscow, London, and Beijing, as well as institutions like MoMA in New York and Les Arts Décoratifs in France. Bankov is also a respected lecturer on design, sharing his expertise across Russia, the CIS, and Europe.
bankovposters.com — @peter_bankov
A writer who does not write will sooner or later become depressed. Do you have to design? What else makes you happy?
I HAVE FORMED MY OWN APPROACH TO THIS TOPIC, THE TOPIC OF WORK, DEPRESSION, LONELINESS. THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE BEAR, THE BEAR GOES HUNGRY FOR WEEKS, THEN CATCHES A HEDGEHOG OR A HARE AND EATS THEM. HE SLEEPS AND GOES HUNGRY AGAIN FOR WEEKS. I WORK NON-STOP FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEN I DRINK VODKA, COMMUNICATE AND SLEEP. Do you believe in collaborative work? YES, I LOVE JOINT PROJECTS, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE DESIGNER HAPPINESS, TO SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING A DESIGN LIKE THE GOD SHIVA, AT THE SAME TIME AND WITH SIX HANDS. What role do poster festivals play? Do you think poster still help in the education of designers.
POSTER FESTIVALS ARE GREAT. POSTER DESIGN FOR ME IS A SPORT, LIKE ANY SPORT. SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT. What are your tricks to make a poster work? I WRITE THE BEST CALLIGRAPHY AFTER PARTIES WITH ALCOHOL. THEN MY HAND SHAKES AND IT TURNS OUT A NERVOUS AND GENTLE CALLIGRAPHY.
SUI
GOD BASEL SUI
Jiri
GOD
REFUGEES
Workshop & Exhibition — Free University of Bozen
Oplatek, Claudiabasel Workshop — FHNW Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst
In July/August 2014, Cuba experienced an economic crisis due to the shortage of basic goods, such as food and medicine. The crisis was caused by a combination of factors, including the country's outdated economic model, the US embargo, and Venezuela's economic troubles. Cuba's economy heavily relies on its exports of services, particularly in the medical and tourism sectors. However, the country faced a decline in its revenue from these sectors due to the global economic recession and the decrease in Venezuela's oil exports to the island, which led to a shortage of fuel and other supplies. This, in turn, affected the production and distribution of basic goods, causing long lines and empty shelves in stores.
Switzerland is a secular country with a constitutionally enshrined separation of religion and state. Each canton manages its own religious affairs, resulting in varied relationships between religion and the state. Historically, Switzerland has been influenced by Christianity, particularly Calvinism in Geneva and Protestantism in other regions, alongside a significant Catholic presence. Each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons has the autonomy to manage its own religious affairs, leading to variations in the relationship between religion and the state across the country. Some cantons have established churches that receive state support, while others maintain stricter secular policies.
BASEL
To address the crisis, the Cuban government announced a series of economic reforms, including the expansion of private enterprise, the increase of foreign investment, and the reduction of bureaucratic regulations. Additionally, the US government announced in December 2014 the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than five decades of tension, which also contributed to improving the economic situation on the island.
John Calvin, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation, settled in Geneva in 1536. His teachings emphasized predestination, the absolute sovereignty of God, and a disciplined, pious lifestyle. Calvin’s influence turned Geneva into a center of Protestantism and had a lasting impact on Swiss culture and governance. His establishment of the Geneva Academy in 1559 also promoted Reformed theology and education, shaping future generations of Protestant leaders. Religiosity in Switzerland is diverse, with a growing number of people identifying as non-religious. While Christianity remains significant, there is an increasing presence of Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Despite the trend towards secularism, religion still plays a role in the cultural and social lives of many Swiss citizens.
POL WARSAW
FUTURE
NO FUTURE
Grzegorz Laszuk / Warsaw Print & Exhibition — Kwiaciarnia Grafiki
In 2016, Poland experienced a political crisis due to a dispute between the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) and the Constitutional Tribunal, which was seen as an attempt to consolidate power and limit the independence of the judiciary. The crisis also coincided with a significant increase in women’s rights protests and activism against a proposed bill that would have banned abortion in almost all circumstances.
The proposed abortion ban sparked widespread outrage and protests across Poland, known as the “Black Protests,” and was supported by many civil society organizations and opposition parties. Despite the protests and international condemnation, the PiS government continued to push for the proposed ban, which ultimately failed to pass in parliament.
The PiS government also passed controversial laws that gave it more control over the judiciary, leading to accusations of violating the constitution and a further erosion of democracy. Despite criticism from the opposition and the European Union, the PiS government remained steadfast, leading to a controversial law giving it control over the public broadcaster.
The crisis exposed deep divisions within Polish society and highlighted ongoing tension between the government and the judiciary, while the situation for women’s rights in Poland remains a concern for many. Women’s rights activists continue to protest against the government’s policies, which restrict access to contraception and limit sex education in schools. The PiS government’s attempts to limit women’s rights have also been criticized by international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union.
OUR GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS, UNINTERRUPTED FLOW THROUGHOUT ALL THE PHASES OF THE PROCESS, RECONNECTING TECHNICAL MEANS AND REKINDLING CREATIVITY IN A ONE,
SINGULAR FLUX.
IS RUNNING—BERLIN
