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DESIGN
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DESIGNS
Armin Hofmann
“For after all, a poster does more than simply supply information on the goods it advertises; it also reveals a societys state of mind.�
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Armin Hofmann
INTRODUCTION
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Armin Hofmann, Swiss Grand Award for Design, 2013.
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5 Introduction 7 Contents
11 Basel Theater 19 Design Manual 21 Contemporary 23 Credits
CONTENTS
9 Biography
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Emil Ruder teaching at the Basel School of Design, 1947.
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Hofmann was only 26 when he started teaching at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland. It’s a coincidence that Hofmann met Emil Ruder on a train, who was the current president of the School. On the train Ruder told Hofmann that they had a teaching position open. Hofmann took the position, remaining “there for 40 years and eventually replaced Emil Ruder as the head of the school.” (Designers Journal)
BIOGRAPHY
Armin Hofmann is a Swedish designer and teacher. Hofmann was born on June 29, 1920, in Winterthur Switzerland. He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Zurich. In 1947 he started teaching graphic design at the School of Arts and Crafts in Basel. He is most famous for making posters.
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1959
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Hofmann often used what he called the “trivialization of color.” This entailed bold type and solid colors. Hofmann made posters for more than just the Basel Stadt Theater, but some of his best works were commissioned by the theater. Hofmann’s success can be seen by the fact that his “posters have been exhibited in major galleries all around the world, including the New York Museum of Modern Art.” (Designers Journal)
BASEL THEATER
Armin Hofmann was a multi-talented designer because he dabbled in a various forms of design. He was interested in logo and advertisement design, but he is most known for his numerous poster designs. Many of his posters were commissioned from the Basel Stadt Theater in Switzerland during the 1950s to the 1960s.
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1960
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1961
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1962
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1963
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1964
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1967
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“As a human being he is simple and unassuming. As a teacher, he has few equals. As a practitioner, he ranks among the best…He is a rare bird, a daredevil driver, a mountain climber, a teacher par excellence, and a guru. Yet it is difficult, really, to pin him down.” Paul Rand
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In the manual, Hofmann demonstrates “new techniques of photo-montage, photo-typesetting, experimental composition in general and of course heavily favored sans-serif typography.” (Designers Journal) Hofmann also liked to use black and white to convey high contrast.
DESIGN MANUAL
Armin Hofmann’s predecessors Joseph Müller-Brockmann, and Emil Ruder created graphic design manuals so it made sense for Hofmann to follow in their footsteps. In 1965 Hofmann wrote a graphic design manual. This manual is now a staple in graphic design and is still referenced by many designers to this day.
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1991
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Hofmann has also won numerous awards, including the Grand Prix Design nominated by Swiss Design Awards. Hofmann likes to use sans serif fonts, grids, contrasting colors, and photography. These are some of his signature traits, making his work easily recognizable. Hofmann has dedicated his life to graphic design and his work is still impacting design in the 21st century.
CONTEMPORARY
Armin Hofmann is still alive today and is currently 98 years old. Even though Hofmann is older, his presence can still be felt in the graphic design community. In 1991 he taught during the winter quarter at the University of California, Los Angeles.
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1962
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AIGA https://www.aiga.org/medalist-arminhofmann Cooper Hewitt https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/people/18053303/bio Design is History http://www.designishistory.com/1940/armin-hofmann/
History Graphic Design http://www.historygraphicdesign.com/the-age-of-information/the-international-typogr aphic-style/803-armin-hofmann Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/228205906090722938/ Swiss Design Awards http://www.swissdesignawards.ch/grandprix/2013/arminhofmann/index.html?lang=en
CREDITS
Designers Journal http://www.designersjournal.net/jottings/designheroes/heroes-armin-hofmann
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MAY 2019
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