Otl Aicher. Design. Type. Thinking. is published by Prestel; prestelpublishing.penguinrandomhouse.de
His commitment to bold yet accessible design can be seen in many of his projects, but most noticeably in the aforementioned pictograms, which have since become the basis for a universal language that directs people the world over to bathrooms, through subways, and around airports and hospitals.
Prestel has released a new book on the seminal work of German graphic designer and typographer Otl Aicher (1922-1991) to mark the centenary of his birth. Most known for founding the influential Ulm School of Design, and for the pictographs he designed for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, this publication also explores his achievements beyond the world of design, as well as his passion for teaching and his strong political views.
Through his work, Aicher was a critic of “his time, culture and society” – as the book’s editors write in the preface – and constantly sought to challenge the status quo. He was also an avid proponent of a free, democratic society, and this worldview formed an integral part of his practice.
Though drawing huge inspiration from Aicher’s legacy, the editors Winfried Nerdinger and Wilhelm Vossenkuhlwithout were keen not to let this guide the design of the book itself. “Our goal today is to rediscover, recognise and understand Aicher, not to imitate him,” they write. “This is why we decided not to use his unique typefaces or typography.”
The publication itself presents an in-depth look at all of this work and much more, paying homage to Aicher’s polymathic approach and inimitable style, and tracing the lasting influence of his practice.
