Josef Muller Borckmann

Jossef Muller Brockman, 1914- 1996, a graphic designer from Switzerland – Zurich, made remarkable Illustrations and designs that become International in the 1950s until our days and influenced lots of designers. At the beginning of his career, he focused in applying his designs in exhibitions that were influences by Hans Erni “Switzerland, Vacation Country for the Nations” mural. In the late 40s, he studied works and theories of other designers such as: Lissitzky, Moholy and Tschicold in order to improve himself and gain experiences. He became well known in his series of Zurich Tonhalle Posters, Hermes Typewriter advertisement and Campaign for Zurich Metroplitian Police. The secret behind his success was the arrangement of typography and pictorial elements, using grids and using principles of design like space, letters and colors.

Brockmann was a designer who sought to form Constructivism, De Still, Suprematism, and the Bauhaus. He created new design expressions that were recognized in World War 2 era, his work in graphic design was more than just illustrative. He created rhythm especially in concert posters in the 50s such as: “Chopin Piano Concerto” Poster in 1951, where he used solid colors (black for element, yellow as background, green for geometric shapes, and text, and brown for other detailed text), abstract elements found at the upper part of the poster, placing the typography downward using Akzidenz Grotesk typeface, and arranged them it into 2 columns by stating the names to the left using large font, while other details such as time and place to the right.

Another poster was designed with the same concept; using different elements such as black and gray, in addition to using grey and black colors for text. Both posters were designed using basic principles of simplicity, understandable and direct message to the viewer. In 1953 he designed a poster for Zurich Tonhalle, spring concert in black background and white text and elements, Akzindenz Grotesk typeface, the text was arranged near the center, abstract shapes were designed in circular form and were represented in 2D composition.

The most interesting poster was “ Beethoven” concert Poster designed in 1955, he created black layers of incomplete circles starting from left to right, the outline of the circle becomes wider as if non ending, the title of the poster was displayed on the left side, and other details were arranged at midline below the title in black color and the space was filled in gray. “Musica Viva” was deigned in 1957, in this poster he arranged the text to the top with 4 columns, Akzindenz Grotest typeface, black color, a path was designed with 2D perspective, orange background, he created balance by giving space in the middle of the poster.