Recently, I’ve been deep into researching Swiss Style and I want to share some very beautiful contemporary poster designs by Mike Joyce that strictly adhere to its laws.
A little history on Swiss Style, also known as the International Typographic Style; it emerged from Russia, the Netherlands, and Germany in the 1920s, and was developed by designers in Switzerland during the 1950s.
In believing that design was a worthwhile and serious vocation, Swiss design is absent of frivolous idiosyncrasies; universal artistic principals were of more importance than individuality (that could lead to miscommunication and the sharing of unclear ideas).
Now, while Swiss Style takes from prior art movements such as De Stijl, Constructivism, and Bauhaus, it emerged without many of the political and historical contexts of those movements.
Defining characteristics of Swiss design are the firm use of a mathematical grid system used to structure the layout, the industrial-looking sans-serif unjustified typefaces (usually flush left and ragged right), and a preference for photography over illustration. The use of photography is intended to present information objectively, without the influence of commercial advertisement or propaganda.
It’s plain to see from Mike Joyce’s adherence to the rules of Swiss style that the grid system still works in favour of commercial advertisements. This is due to the clarity of communication; that only the essential information is on view. There’s no room to misunderstand when a gig is on, where it’s being held, and who’s playing.
You will have also noticed that the text is all presented in lowercase (Berthold Akzidenz-Grotesk medium). Some design movements (such as Bauhaus) reason that both a set of upper and lowercase characters are superfluous and less practical; it’s faster to pick one case to write in.
I feel that these posters are great examples of marrying strong visual aesthetics with functionality. I hope that I will have the chance to make commercial work that looks as fun, strong, and energetic as these posters – even if I am not emulating Swiss design.
Be sure to check out Joyce’s gallery of posters if you want to see more of these designs… for inspiration, or admiration.
DESIGN WORKS 
I love the crisp and “ready to eat” accessibility of these posters, inducing a tantalising focal point; reminiscent of light playing on layered tinted perspex. The senses are immediately excited, a moment of pleasure, somehow teasing. In one glympse, almost like the view through a kalaidescope, the mind responds to the impact upon the senses to the sharp tang of colour. Therefore ever captivated.
LikeLike
Thank you, Alison. What lovely observations and insight to read as I start the day! I think, to say the posters are “reminiscent of light playing on layered tinted perspex” is spot-on! Thank you again.
LikeLike