The Poster Collection of the Zurich Museum fur Gestaltung offers a
record of the history of the poster, in Switzerland and worldwide, from
its beginnings in the 19th century to its current existence. The
collection is continually being expanded and brought up-to-date, and
maintains a continuous dialogue with contemporary output while
acknowledging historical achievements. The museum's poster collection is
one of the most comprehensive and significant archives of its kind in
the world. Poster Collection 07 gathers together the most important
posters of Armin Hofmann, presenting them in the context of works by his
most famous students. An exceptionally influential graphic-design
teacher, Hofmann instructed, and has seen his methods continued by, such
practitioners as Nelly Rudin, Karl Gerstner, Pierre Mendell, Klaus
Oberer and G»rard Ifert. Born in 1920, Hofmann began teaching his own
typographic principles at the Basel School of Design in 1947. He and his
colleagues contributed to the development of Swiss International Style,
advocating a belief in absolute and universal graphic expression.
Hofmann also taught at Yale University and the Philadelphia Museum
School of Arts. His 1965 Graphic Design Manual is regarded as a
fundamental work in the field of modern graphic design and art.
