Who the Hell is Müller-Brockmann?
_Study on the ongoing authority of the Swiss Style
_Comparison between graphic design approaches
_Exchanges with different specialists
_Typographic pieces by all guests
How can a typeface or grid have such a powerful effect on a global community and continue to evoke such strong emotions to this day? How can cultural exchange give new impetus to the graphic design industry? Is the contemporary scene still truly innovative, or is it merely basking in past glory?
“Who the hell is Mr. Brockmann?” was an artistic research project in London that explored how Swiss design principles from the 1950s and 1960s could remain so influential for decades, especially in the English-speaking world. The concept was to discuss and exchange ideas on these and many other questions in a project space with typographers, graphic designers, artists, and curators. Each guest was also asked to bring a design artifact that represented the diverse interactions between Swiss typography and the international design scene. The publication juxtaposes these with the discussion transcripts, thus building a bridge between the typographic traditions and practices of the two countries, celebrating dialogue and collaboration without ignoring divergences and conflicts.
Contributors: Bruno Maag, Fraser Muggeridge, Freda Sack, Holger Jacobs, Michele Jannuzzi, Richard Hollis, Robin Kinross, Sara De Bondt
