Module 7 - Field Journal

Modernism in American Graphic Design


After reading this week about the European immigration of graphic designers during the 1920’s and 30’s, I couldn’t help but think about how lucky we are as a country to experience the talents, passion, hard work, and ingenuity that immigrants have contributed to the United States.

In the context of this class, the contributions of European modernism to 20^th century graphic design were enormous.  I’d like to focus on two modernist editorial design pioneers, Lazlo Maholy-Nagy and Alexey Brodovitch by comparing work by the designers (on the left) with present day examples from the November 2011 issues of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue magazines, (on the right).*

Lazlo Maholy-Nagy:


Multiple exposure/motion (photography)

               

Texture (photography)

Integration of type and shape

Alexey Brodovitch:

Affinity for white space and sharp type on clean open page

Contrast (photography)

Photo enlargement and cropping

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Sources:

Maholoy-Nagy image credits:
Mobile still/in motion - terminartors.com
Oskar Schmlemmer, Asconia, 1937 - chagalov.tumblr.com
Typophoto - rici-art.com

Brodovitch image credits:
White space and sharp type - arterritory.com
Contrast layout - benseary.blogspot.com
Girl in Hat - katydwyerdesign.com