Otl Aicher [Hardcover]

Markus Rathgeb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2007

Otl Aicher (1922-1991) was an internationally acclaimed graphic designer and educator, renowned for his complex visual systems and typography. Born in post-World War I Germany and coming of age during World War II, Aicher was marked by the intellectual resistance movement, postwar reconstruction, and a conviction that designers had a moral responsibility to work in the service of a better society. He emerged as an influential innovator in the field of visual communication, keenly informed by a strong sense of politics, theology, and social responsibility. By distilling ideology, language, and aesthetics to its bare essentials, Aicher promoted forthright communication through simple, elegant, elemental presentation. Aicher helped found the Hochschule fur Gestaltung (HfG) in Ulm, an experimental design school in the spirit of the Bauhaus, and wrote several books on the theory and practice of design and typography. Among Aicher's best-known work are his early posters; corporate identity programs for Lufthansa, BASF, FSB, and the German lighting firm ERCO; his visual communication system for the Munich Olympics of 1972, which set a standard for universal pictograms; and his typeface Rotis. In his later career Aicher collaborated on the design of public buildings and environmental projects (Sir Norman Foster was one of his collaborators). Although Aicher wrote a number of books on design, this book is the first comprehensive and authoritative account of his life and work, with extensive illustrations from private archives, museums, and Aicher's estate.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Markus Rathgeb completed his Ph.D. dissertation, "Otl Aicher: Design as a Method of Action," for the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication at the University of Reading in England and has published several articles on Aicher's work in both English and German. He is currently a professor of design methods and graphic design at the University of Cooperative Education, Ravensburg, Germany, and works as a design consultant.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (January 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714843962
• ISBN-13: 978-0714843964
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless, October 5, 2007

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TEA - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Otl Aicher (Hardcover)

Otl Aicher

Otl Aicher and his collegues has created among the most modern but still timeless graphic design ever. Many of his design programmes are still in use even if they where created 50, 40 or 30 years ago. I think this is due to his method; a palette of few graphic elements, strong grids, well balanced color schemes, combined with an artistic hand and a twinkle in the eye. The art of reduction without losing the soul.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, February 1, 2009

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Glenn LaVertu "defender of the black square" (Providence, RI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Otl Aicher (Hardcover)

This catalogue is a cohesive and "entertaining" look at Aicher's work. The writing is illuminating and the images are excellent. The breadth of work examined here illustrates the history of this artist and designer, his process and the dynamic images he created. Of course, his work for the Munich Olympics are here, but they are only a part of the entire picture. For me, anyway, this book shed light on how brilliant his vast career was and it has provided new art/designs that I admire. For someone who was not too familiar with Aicher's work, this could be a revelation.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars decent book on a great designer, March 13, 2007

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OneEarDown (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Otl Aicher (Hardcover)

hard to go wrong when showcasing the work of such an innovative and strategic designer.