Swiss Graphic Design [Hardcover]

Robert Klanten (Editor), Hendrik Hellige (Editor), Michael Mischler (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2000

Currently, the region with the world's highest density of high-quality designers is indisputably Switzerland. Swiss graphic design, which is traditionally sparing, is now becoming an international sensation: its designers know how to often take radical creative approaches that are, at the same time, not conceited and give a light impression. The designers' creative approaches are then realized with expert craftsmanship and an obsession for detail. A further element that has helped the popularity of Swiss design a great deal is that its language of forms, which is often reduced, suits the Internet particularly well. For one, Swiss Graphic Design gives an overview of the most talented Swiss designers by documenting the high standard they have for the most typical applications such as vector-graphics, layout, fonts and illustration by showing some of the most remarkable works. The book also impressively proves how important it is for creative professionals the world over to develop their own local solutions and to be consistent in doing so. That is the reason why the book is a must-have not only for graphic designers, but for all who are interested in the visual. The famous Swiss author and professor of semoiotics André Vladimir Heiz could be won to write the preface. His insider point of view is more than just informative and provides for a defintion of the state-of-the-art of Swiss Graphic Design between tradition and revolution.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Gestalten Verlag (October 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3931126366
• ISBN-13: 978-3931126360
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,655,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars nice coffee table book, September 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Swiss Graphic Design (Hardcover)

A very handsome cover at first glance, and quite extrodinare inside also.

Some awesome work from buro destruct, francois chalet, norm, remo, etc. you know... the elite swiss guys that have a nack for detail.

Overall, if your into graphics design, and currently have designers block, pick it up for a while, and get inspired again. But don't expect anything other than that. If not, it's still worth it in your graphics library for reference, and makes a nice coffee table book.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous New Typography from Switzerland, December 29, 2000

By 

Stefan Bucher (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swiss Graphic Design (Hardcover)

Who knew they still had it in them? Excellent examples of young Swiss typography abound in this handsome volume.

The truly beautiful work is loosely grouped by style, which works surprisingly well and makes for enjoyable browsing.

The only thing vaguely disappointing about the book is the 20-page essay lead-in, which, for me, falls into the "Impenetrably Lofty Writing on Design" category. Blah blah blah. It looks very nice on the page, but it's painful, joyless reading. Turn to the informative writing in Intro's first "Sampler" volume and Ginko's "Visible Music" to see it done right. (Mind you, this is all personal bias. I may just be too dense to comprehend this particular piece.)

Who cares, anyway? It's a design book. No one reads design books. They're all about the pretty work. And there's plenty of it here.

5.0 out of 5 stars RARE and HARD TO FIND one of a kind book., March 11, 2006

By 

Robert Mcguire "mcguiredesign" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swiss Graphic Design (Hardcover)

I totally agree with, Stefan Bucher (California, USA), this is a wonderful book... a must have for any graphic designer, its a one of a kind book that is very limited, RARE and HARD TO FIND book. All the examples and great pioneers and examples of Swiss Graphic Design are in here... Truely Awesome Book, love all the visuals of great work....