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book (design) story #326

kurt wirth, adolf max vogt:
schweizer grafiker

verlag käser presse, zürich, 1960
printer: käser presse, zürich
size: 25 x 21 cm
designer: siegfried odermatt

the association of swiss graphic artists vsg (verband schweizerischer grafiker) published this handbook in 1960. we have come across this association before, in stories 193 and 193. the book came with a presentation card laid in.

siegfried odermatt (*1926) designed the book. the cover's monumental, close-up photograph (by fred waldvogel) is typical for odermatt's style. the typography is typically swiss: sans-serif, set unjustified, in the same size and weight also for titles.

the vsg's members are listed with adress and featured on a double spread each – today an invaluable source for anyone interested in swiss graphic design of the 1950s.

interestingly richard paul lohse shows a painting rather than a typical graphic design: his mural for the swiss pavilion at the triennale milano 1957 (now hanging in the director's office of the eth in zürich).

sigi odermatt's example and photograph below right are in a similar style to the cover photograph.