Second Draft

Lucian Bernhard "Priester" matches poster (1906) - View original image We often talk about minimalism in modern web design—stripping away the clutter to focus on the user’s primary need. But as with most things in our industry, this isn’t a new idea. I was reading an excellent article on DailyArt Magazine recently about Plakatstil (literally "Poster Style"), and it struck me how relevant these century-old principles still are. Originating in Germany in the early 1900s, Plakatstil was a reaction against the complex, swirling patterns of Art Nouveau. It was initiated almost by accident in 1906 by Lucian Bernhard. The story goes that he entered a poster competition for Priester matches and, trusting his instincts, simply painted two matches and the brand name on a flat black background. It was bold, direct, and completely rejected the ornamental fuss of the time. Hans Rudi Erdt's "Opel" poster (1911) - View original image The key features of Plakatstil—fl...

Henri's Walk to Paris Hardcover by Saul Bass   Vintage Kids' Books My Kids Love I've been completely captivated by a recent article from AIGA's   Eye on Design   titled, "Why did so many mid-century designers make children's books?". It explores a fascinating and somewhat unexpected corner of design history: the period when some of the most influential graphic designers of the 20th century turned their talents to creating books for children. We're talking about legends like Paul Rand , Saul Bass, Ivan Chermayeff , and Leo Lionni – names synonymous with corporate identities, film title sequences, and modern art. So, why the pivot to picture books? The article delves into several compelling reasons. One key factor was the post-war baby boom, which created a massive market for children's literature. Simultaneously, advancements in printing technology made it possible to produce high-quality, colorful books more affordably. But beyond market forces, ...