Design History – the Myth of Swiss Style

Workshop Design History – the Myth of Swiss Style at the Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)

Key data

ECTS points: 2 ECTS
Next start: Next Start: 2025
Duration: 1 Week
Teaching language: Englisch
Place: Basel
Fee: CHF 900.– (view fees)
Study mode: Full-time

The term of Swiss Graphic Design enjoys an international reputation. The so-called “Swiss Style” of the 1950s and 1960s has become quite legendary. But what is this style label about and how did it emerge? Why are certain works included in it – and others aren’t? Why do we only know a mere handful of (mostly male) designers from this era? And how does this historical narrative influence recent approaches of visual communication?
The workshop is going to offer an introduction to the history of Swiss graphic design and typography, based on current scientific outcomes which scrutinize the formation of established historical narratives. We are going to visit design collections, work with original material and learn about basic methods of writing design history: how to find and choose design objects in relevant collections and museums? How to analyze the images or graphic works found? How to find out more about a design object by evaluating archival documents or interviewing designers? We shall also learn how final outcomes of design historiography such as books, articles, or exhibitions come about.
The workshop requires no previous knowledge. It addresses persons from design practice who are interested in applying their practical experience and visual literacy within the framework of historical research and would like to use the knowledge gained for further research in their own practice.

Sandra Bischler-Hartmann is a design historian, holding a BA in Visual Communication and an MA in Art and Design Science. Since 2016, she has been part of the scientific staff at the Institute Digital Communication Environments at Basel Academy of Art and Design. Her research focuses on the history of graphic design and typography. As a doctoral student, she contributed to the SNSF Sinergia research project “Swiss Graphic Design and Typography Revisited” (2016–2020). In her PhD dissertation, she analyzes graphic design education in Switzerland during the mid-twentieth century, examining educational principles and design philosophies with regard to their integration and migration across national borders. She works as an exhibition curator and a lecturer on design history at universities in Switzerland and Germany

The Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE) offers workshops for students, educators and graphic designers.

The workshops afford insights into topical themes of visual communication for analogue and digital communication channels in a study programme reflecting the rich tradition of the Basel School of Design. Practical exercises with a high level of professionalism form the core of the workshops focus. Reflection as well as contextual knowledge will be conveyed by way of input sessions, allowing participants’ work to be judged within a contemporary, future-oriented context relevant to professional practice. The trinational Rhine River Valley is a unique cultural environment with easy access to France and Germany and to sites such as the Vitra Design Museum (G), the Isenheimer Alter (F), or Ronchamps (F). In Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, Tinguely Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Schaulager, and Museum of Contemporary Art are world-renowned. Besides its museums, Basel offers a rich mixture of cultural events.

Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)

Through digital media and the democratisation of communication channels that goes hand in hand with it, the critical handling of their visual and interaction-based design has become decisively more important, because the social relevance of information and communication has thus fundamentally changed.

Continuing Education

Art and Design

Dreispitz Basel / Münchenstein

Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Basel FHNW Freilager-Platz 1 4142 Münchenstein b. Basel

Telephone: +41 61 228 44 00
e-mail: aW5mby5oZ2tAZmhudy5jaA==

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Design History – the Myth of Swiss Style

Key data

Institute Digital Communication Environments (IDCE)

Continuing Education

Contact

Dreispitz Basel / Münchenstein