Armin Hofmann. Reduction. Ethics. Didactics.
_His methodology of image and form design from 1965 is still a leading textbook
_For a deeper understanding of the profound and multifaceted work of Armin Hofmann
_With extensive picture gallery
_Contributions by Kenneth Hiebert, Philip Burton, April Greiman, Mahendra Patel, Hans-Ulrich Allemann, Inge Druckrey, Georg Staehelin, Wolfgang Weingart
Armin Hofmann's graphic work and teaching approaches have influenced generations of graphic designers around the world. Far from doctrinal views, he exemplified a professional attitude characterized by the idea of reduction, a matter-of-fact pragmatism, and a deep sense of responsibility. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of his design work, his professional ethics, and the principles he developed and applied in his teaching.
The work is structured on three levels: a professional examination of Hofmann's work, his biography, and original texts on various aspects of his oeuvre. Guest contributions from former students and later renowned graphic designers and typographers, as well as fellow artists and colleagues, paint a very personal picture and illustrate the global influence of his work through their own work. Original sources were used almost exclusively in the compilation, particularly from his extensive private archive, thus enabling a highly authentic, in-depth, and multifaceted immersion in Armin Hofmann's legacy.