The Karl Gerstner Design Collection acquired by the Swiss National Library
(Last modification 01.12.2006)
Bern, 01.12.2006 - The design collection of the epoch-making Swiss designer Karl Gerstner has recently been incorporated into the Prints and Drawings Department of the Swiss National Library. In addition to drafts, preliminary sketches and sketches for fine arts works, Gerstner’s design collection represents a comprehensive archive of drafts, preparatory works and campaigns in the commercial art realm. On November 30th, 2006, Prince Philip appointed Gerstner "Honorary Royal Designer for Industry".
Karl Gerstner was born in Basel, Switzerland, in 1930. Having trained as a graphic designer, he went on, as of 1950, to become one of Switzerland’s leading pioneers in the creation of fonts, type design, commercial art/corporate identities and advertising design. This comes across in numerous publications both by and about Gerstner. Appearing in 1959, and written jointly with Markus Kutter, his first book on the subject was entitled "Die neue Graphik" (“New Graphic Design”). "Programme entwerfen" (“Designing Programmes”), published in 1963, has since become a cult book: some forty years later German students initiated a new edition, which will soon be published. The year 1972 saw the publication of "Kompendium für Alphabeten. Systematik der Schrift" ( later titled in English “Compendium for Literates”). This was followed a year later (1973) by a retrospective of Gerstner’s work put on by New York’s Museum of Modern Art: “Think Program. Designing Programs-Programming Design”.Karl Gerstner lives and works in Basel and Hippoltskirch (Alsace, France).
The famed “Geigy style” that Gerstner jointly created with Max Schmid has its origin in his first official commission, which was for the Geigy Chemical Corporation in Basel. Thereafter, in 1959, he and Markus Kutter founded the “Gerstner+Kutter” advertising agency, which would rapidly make a name for itself thanks to its striking advertising campaigns. When joined by a third partner, in the person of Paul Gredinger, “GGK” gained international renown. Attracting clients both in Switzerland and abroad, their agency developed into an international network, with offshoots in Europe, New York and Sao Paulo.Upon withdrawing from the agency’s board of directors in 1970, Gerstner began devoting himself in ever greater measure to his fine art work, which he strove to accomplish in parallel with the tasks required of him as a graphic designer and agency director. In 1990, he retired from these tasks as well. Gerstner’s work as a graphic designer is the subject of a book by Manfred Kroepliens—"Rückblick auf 5 x 10 Jahre Graphick Design" (“Review of 5 x 10 Years of Graphic Design”)—published in 2002.
On November 30th, 2006, Gerstner was appointed “Honorary Royal Designer for Industry”—a title conferred by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA). Other recipients to date include Alvar Aalto, Charles Eames und Roland Topor.
Address for enquiries
Dr. phil. Mechthild Heuser, Deputy head of the Prints and Drawings Department
Tel. +41 31 325 05 07, mechthild.heuser@slb.admin.ch
Publisher
Swiss National Library
http://www.nb.admin.ch
