wiedler.ch

book (design) story #123

markus kutter:
inventar mit 35

verlag arthur niggli, teufen,, 1961
printer: brin + tanner ag, basel
size: 22 x 14 cm
designer: roberto zoppi

a few weeks ago, markus kutter (1925-2005) died. we have come across several of his publications – often designed by karl gerstner (see stories 5, 14, 17, 37, 85). this 1961 book is an "inventary" of 100 short texts kutter published when he was 35 years old.

the book design by roberto zoppi is another example of what i like to call swiss "new new typography": sans-serif type and an asymmetric page layout, influenced by tschichold's pre-ww2 style.

the first text (numbered 0) is about morphology, a method of problem analysis introduced by fritz zwicky, the famous swiss-american astrophysicist. the parallels between the grid-like "morphological matrix " and the grid-based swiss typography (and "concrete art") are obvious.

kutter's texts are critical reflections of 1960's (swiss) society. some of his poems are visual constellations in the vein of eugen gomringer's "concrete poetry".