At the beginning of the 20th century, designers in Germany such as Peter Behrens created some of the world’s first examples of what later came to be known as corporate design. Later, the Bauhaus also incorporated systematic design solutions into its teachings. A few years after the end of World War II, West Germany followed up on the pioneering design principles of its past. The influential design school HfG Ulm and a number of young graphic designers shaped a new understanding of system design in the early 1960s. Visual identities for the airline Lufthansa, the 1972 Munich Olympics and for many other companies, institutions and events were created. The economically prosperous country, which had returned to democracy, showed its transformed image with systematically developed design solutions that visually shaped everyday life.
An exhibition includes selected posters documenting the corporate design projects and showing the use of visual identities. Further exhibits on the subject are the rare design manuals in which the original concepts were manifested. Unique original documents, including concept drawings and print samples, demonstrate the high quality of the handcrafted design work.


Jens Müller & Katharina Sussek (vista)
The A5 collection, based in Düsseldorf, Germany, is inextricably associated with the publishing work of graphic designer and educator Jens Müller. In addition to the A5 books on German graphic design, his publications include books such as Logo Modernism, Pioneers of German Graphic Design, and The History of Graphic Design. The collection’s holdings expand with each new book project—at the same time, new book projects arise from collecting. In addition to the multifaceted history of German graphic design, the international evolution of logo and corporate design has also become a focal point. Historical design literature combined with original documents and objects are the foundation for new insights in the field of graphic design history research.