Did they think, for just a moment, their typeface would inspire a film? Again, probably not. When Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann created Helvetica in 1957, did they know their work would result in what is arguably the most ubiquitous sans serif typeface in the world? Probably not. Originally released by Danberry & Peignot in 1957, the family passed through the hands of the Haas Type Foundry before being purchased in 2007 (along with all of Linotype) by Monotype. Pulling elements from Akzidenz-Grotesk, Frutiger created one of the first typefaces that formed a font family, allowing documents to use one typeface (instead of several) in various sizes and weights, creating a beautifully simple uniform via text alone. UniversĪdrian Frutiger, one of the most influential typeface designers of the 20th century,Ĭreated Univers in 1954. under the names “Standard” or “Basic Commercial.” If that doesn’t shout “FIRST!” I don’t know what does. It soon became one of the most widely used typefaces and was even sold in the U.S. Probably the most influential typeface for this movement, Akzidenz-Grotesk was released by the Berthold Type Foundry in 1896 and was arguably the first of its kind.

Because of this, the typefaces chosen to represent Swiss Style are those that really hone in one the movement’s key principles: Akzidenz-Grotesk By stripping away the embellishments, Swiss Style eliminates distractions for the viewer and allows the information-heavy design to be read and studied rather than merely seen and admired. Those who taught Swiss Style argued that design should focus on the content and not decorative extras. Those grid systems wouldn’t be anything without the classic sans serif typeface that so seamlessly folds into Swiss Style. The TypefacesĪppreciating Swiss Style means appreciating the typefaces that started it all. Elements from Bauhaus, De Stijl and The New Typography are sprinkled throughout the works of Ersnt Keller, Max Bill, Josef-Müller Brakmann and Armin Hofmann-i.e., the pioneers of Swiss Style.

The movement’s innovators combined elements of other artistic trends to create the beauty and simplicity of the Swiss Style that we know today. In addition to the grid, Swiss Style usually involves an asymmetrical layout, sans serif typefaces and the favoring of photography over illustrations. They are clear-cut and work well with ratios (Rule of Thirds, Golden Ratio, etc.).

Why are so many websites broken into grids? Grids are flexible, consistent and easy to follow. These grids are considered to be the “most legible and harmonious means for structuring information.” Using a grid for design makes creating a hierarchy for the content much easier-think web design. Meggs‘ History of Graphic Design explains that International Typographic Design begins with a mathematical grid. The 19th century marked the separation of design from fine art, and with it, the birth of grid-based design.īand posters designed by Mike Joyce and inspired by Swiss Style Just a few key words that describe the driving force behind Swiss Style. Let’s take a moment to honor some of modern design’s most influential principles, typefaces and artists who started this central-European trend. If you’re a designer in the 21st century, chances are you’ve studied the International Typographic Style (more commonly known as ‘Swiss Style’).

Graphic design typeface poster