wim crouwel: a graphic odyssey design museum, london march 30 – july 3, 2011

left: edgar fernhout poster, 1963, stedelijk van abbemuseum, eindhoven. right: exhibition poster 1968, foder museum, amsterdam.

the design museum of london celebrates the prolific career of dutch graphic designer wim crouwel. regarded as one of the leading designers of the twentieth century, crouwel’s embraced a new modernity to produce typographic works that broke down barriers and ‘captured the essence of the emerging computer age.’ the exhibition will span 60 years covering his rigorous dedication and approach to the field of design.

featuring key works for his studio total design, the identity for the stedelijik museum, and his iconic posters, print design, typographic studies and finished typefaces, including some of his lesser known exhibition design. original sketches, posters, catalogs and archive photography will be on display alongside films and audio documentary. also exploring his legacy and influence on contemporary graphic design with commentary from various designers including peter saville and stefan sagmeister.

for more information about the various talks, events, and workshops, see the design museum events page.

wim crouwel: a graphic odyssey kinderspel poster, 1965, stedelijk museum, amsterdam

wim crouwel: a graphic odyssey leger poster 1957, stedelijk van abbemuseum, eindhoven.

wim crouwel: a graphic odyssey left: the screenprinted wallpaper dying right: detail of the crouwel based letter ‘c’six contemporary designers have been commissioned to produce a series of limited edition prints based on crouwel’s work, in addition to a wallpaper from cole & son featuring a crouwel ‘c’ and a handmade rug with his ‘new alphabet’ design, only available at the design museum shop.