The beginning of minimalism: The fascinating story of German graphic
design of the early 20th century Pioneers of German Graphic Design tells
the story of German graphic design in all its detail, from the late
monarchy to the Wirtschaftswunder after World War II. Author Jens
Müller, an expert in the field, explores the circumstance that led to
the groundbreaking inventions of Germany's graphic design pioneers in an
era of tumultuous politics and rapid social and economic change,
shedding light not only on the development of the profession but on its
international influence. Müller's analysis reveals that aesthetic
principles of reduction and minimalism were introduced long before the
foundation of the famous Bauhaus in 1919.Peter Behrens created the
world's first comprehensive corporate design for AEG as early as 1907,
designing everything from the corporate logo to products, showrooms and
even headquarter and production buildings. Other innovators soon
followed: Lucian Bernhard prompted a revolution in poster design,
Wilhelm Deffke and Karl Schulpig invented the modern logo, Herbert Bayer
expanded the language of form at the Bauhaus, Jan Tschichold promoted a
new typographic style and John Heartfield introduced photomontage as a
means of visual communication. They were all caught up in a spirit of
enthusiasm and opportunity which swept across Germany, and especially
Berlin, in the early decades of the 20th century. Alongside the vivid
depiction of these milestones of graphic design the book analyzes how
German zeitgeist had turned from emotional Expressionism to the
matter-of-fact New Objectivity and how German modernist design
subsequently became internationally recognized and had a significant
influence on design movements in Western Europe and the United
States.Apart from reproducing more than 1,000 iconic designs in
magnificent quality, this volume exhibits a great diversity of important
unpublished or forgotten pieces. It presents the inspirational stories
of fourteen graphic designers who essentially shaped the modern
profession and established a visual language that changed our aesthetic
perception forever.
