Armin Hofmann. Discount. Ethics. Didactics.

August 3, 2022

Via his in depth design and academic work, Armin Hofmann (1920–2020) is taken into account some of the influential graphic designers in Switzerland. He made a big contribution to the worldwide repute of Swiss graphic design and influenced generations of graphic designers and lecturers all over the world.

In celebration of Armin’s one hundredth (and final) birthday in June 2020, his son Matthias Hofmann, additionally a graphic designer, printed the ebook Armin Hofmann. Reduction. Ethics. Didactics.

The German / English ebook showcases a complete overview of Armin Hofmann’s artistic work, his skilled convictions, and the didactic rules he developed. Because of the unique entry to personal unique sources (his complete artistic output, unique manuscripts, unpublished texts, sketches, and images), the ebook presents an unparalleled immersion into the work of the celebrated designer.

Visitor essays give an perception into Hofmann’s instructing and affect, and likewise included is a restricted version catalogue of sketches and strategies.

Whereas his brand work isn’t what he was most recognized for — lots of Hofmann’s poster designs have been exhibited at MoMA — the marks he created confirmed a playful timelessness that undoubtedly influenced the enduring simplicity of extra up to date designs. For instance, this, from 1964, for Swiss textiles agency Pfauen Mode.

And this, for Schweizerische Landesausstellung (Expo 64), held in Lausanne.

Hofmann usually restricted himself to only one color, one signal, to cut back so far as attainable whereas retaining distinction. Different Armin Hofmann logos are on Logobook and Thinking Form.

Paul Rand mentioned of his up to date, “As a human being he’s easy and unassuming. As a instructor, he has few equals. As a practitioner, he ranks among the many finest […] He’s a uncommon chook, a daredevil driver, a mountain climber, a instructor par excellence, and a guru. But it’s troublesome, actually, to pin him down.”