wiedler.ch

book (design) story #205

gottfried honegger:
grafiker

kunstgewerbemuseum zürich (wegleitung 206), 1955
printer: aschmann & scheller ag, zürich
size: 21 x 15 cm
designer: gottfried honegger

in 1955 the kunstgewerbeschule (school of applied arts) in zürich showed an exhibition about the profession of "graphic designer". it was organised by the verband schweizer grafiker (association of swiss graphic designers), see also stories 192 and 193. the cover of the small catalogue is protected by a glassine jacket ...

... which nicely preserved this geometric cover design by gottfried honegger (*1917), an artist and graphic designer who works in the constructive ("concrete") zürich tradition. i guess this hexagonal design symbolises the top end of a pencil with a lilac-colour core.

the typography exemplifies the swiss style of the 1950s: multi-column grid layout and sans-serif – the captions are in such a tiny size you need really sharp eyes!

the illustrations show works by well-known (swiss) designers. they are not credited, but there is a list of vsg members in the catalogue. below on the lower left a spread from this book designed by karl gerstner.