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California Design, 1930 1965: "Living in a Modern Way"

1950s graphic design

However, some later periods, such as 1950s graphic design, 60s style, and 70s graphic design, are often referred to as representing retro graphic design. The 1950s opened up many new avenues for graphic designers to apply and showcase their craft. In Germany, architect Walter Gropius founded a radical art school, the Bauhaus, whose students and teachers created early Modernism as we recognize it today. The school became one of the most influential keystones for the design industry in the 20th century, inspiring generations of graphic designers, architects, and artists to work within a modernist framework. Similar to Mid-Century Modern designers, Swiss style 1950s graphic designers favoured clean lines and geometric shapes as well as the use of photographs, which they felt were a better way to illustrate an idea than drawings.

s Graphic Design History

Swiss, German, and American designers established principles that remain influential today. Overall, 1950s graphic design articulated an optimistic vision of the modern era through clean, structured graphics. A recognizable feature of the Swiss style was the use of simple fonts – that is, sans-serif fonts. Simple fonts were used as a minimalist component and formed an alternative to the old serifs antiqua common in 19th-century printing. Simple fonts made it possible to create a new style that was considered not only practical, but also modern. One of the most famous typefaces was Helvetica, developed in 1957 by the Swiss typographer Max Miedinger with the participation of Eduard Hoffmann.

International Typographic Style (or Swiss Style)

Inspired by curved and natural forms, the style is characterized by fluid borders with ornate details, pleasingly symmetrical layouts, and warm, optimistic colors. "For the first half of the century, the brand's logotype went through several iterations of swirly red typography that closely mimicked their largest rival, Coca-Cola," explains Oliver Maltby, executive creative director at Interbrand. The 1950s saw graphic design undergo a visual revolution embracing universal forms, simplified aesthetics, and functional communication over decoration. Modernism took hold as the dominant style, shaping visual identities, advertising, magazine design, and more. The postwar economic boom of the 1950s facilitated mass production and mass communication on an unprecedented scale.

1950s graphic design

Keith Haring Artwork (1958 – – Art That Danced

Regarding typography, the 1950s changed from ornate and intricate fonts to bold and clean lettering. Sans-serif fonts gained popularity, epitomising modernity and a sense of forward thinking. With their streamlined and geometric shapes, these fonts conveyed a sense of simplicity and professionalism. Additionally, hand-lettering and script typography found their place in 1950s logos, adding a touch of personality and human touch to brand identities. The typography choices of this era struck a balance between legibility and distinctiveness, contributing to the overall visual impact of the logos.

Migration Stories From World War II to Now

The beauty of Brodovitch’s designs was enhanced by the impressive team of collaborators at Bazaar, which included photographer Richard Avedon. From Baroque to Victoriana, Steampunk to Mid-Century graphic design, there's a wealth of history to source vintage graphic design inspiration. Vintage graphic design styles are far from stuffy—the best examples reinterpret retro graphic design styles to create something new and exciting.

Iranian Graphic Designs in 1940s, 50s on Display - Financial Tribune

Iranian Graphic Designs in 1940s, 50s on Display.

Posted: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The world was in dire need of beauty and the fashion industry delivered—and then some. Sentimental Feeling offers an impressive selection of holiday icons and images that will take your designs from good to great. With everything from holly to shooting stars to adorable snowmen, you’ll have all the holiday graphics you need to create stunning, memorable designs that will spread joy and cheer. As soon as you set your eyes on this warm and inviting font, you’ll be transported back to a time when the holidays were more straightforward yet full of wonder and awe.

Mid-Century Illustrated Patterns Vol. 1

Visually speaking, the '50s were a time when sleek, futuristic aesthetics met the comforts of suburban living, and the results were typically a fresh blend of classic elegance and modern flair. In short, the best logos of the '50s were emblematic of a society bursting with confidence and creativity. We hope our selection, picked by a range of experts, inspires your own logo projects and if so, check out our selection of logo design tools too. The basis for the formation of a new classical system was the creation of new fonts – first of all, simple sans-serif typefaces. This process was supported by Max Miedinger and his colleague Eduard Hoffmann. In fairness, the font “Neue Haas Grotesque” was developed, which was later renamed “Helvetica” – “Swiss font” (Helvetia is one of the names of Switzerland).

Social and Public Art Resource Center

The '50s may be long gone, but their logos remain timeless, silently narrating stories of brands that made history. So the next time you're crafting your brand's story, think back to the 1950s. On the other hand, blue played a different role in the colour palette of 1950s logos.

1950s graphic design

Aside from wedding invitations, the Art Deco style works well across all sorts of media. Try using Art Deco typefaces on posters and packaging to make events and products feel more aspirational. This Cattedrale blackletter typeface is a traditional example of the Gothic trend, borrowing old calligraphic elements to create a style that has a formal, dramatic quality. "It's a prime example of how a well-established brand can leverage heritage while still embracing modernity," he adds.

Download Unlimited Patterns and BackgroundsWith a subscription to Envato Elements, you can download unlimited patterns and backgrounds, plus millions of other creative resources. Best of all, you’ll get simple commercial licensing to use the resources in your work safely. We're a creative branding agency dedicated to helping businesses like yours build and grow strong, memorable brands.

Inspired by the clean lines and geometric shapes of Swiss 50s design, you can create your own 50s retro graphic design with this terrific template. All you need is a working knowledge of InDesign and a little time to customise the template to your liking. This 50s retro graphic design is a great example of the dominance of geometrics in the style. Taking inspiration from 1950s American diners, bowling lanes, and drive-ins, these 12 design elements are a great choice for creating flyers, posters, invitations, and more. In conclusion, these top 10 vintage 1950s fonts are a designer’s dream come true.

His work not only contributed to the evolution of graphic design and photography but also helped popularize these new printing techniques, demonstrating their potential for creating compelling designs in advertising and other commercial applications. Bass’s innovative style blended photographic elements with bold typography and striking, simplified graphic forms. This approach was particularly evident in his film posters, where he often used photography in a highly stylized manner. Saul Bass — often celebrated for his work in motion picture title sequences, poster designs, and corporate logos — pioneers an approach to graphic design that frequently incorporated photography, especially in his advertising work.

American graphic designer Paul Rand is considered one of the most influential figures of the decade. He popularized simplified, highly structured logos and visual identities for major corporations like IBM, Westinghouse, and UPS. Following the economic difficulties and austerity of World War II, graphic design in the 1950s embraced modernism and simplicity. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of 1950s graphic design including key styles, influences, and notable designers of the decade. At the start of the 20th century, design didn’t exist as a stand-alone discipline.

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