Tess: International Graphic Designer Series

Author: He Jianping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The term "globalization" has had a profound impact on our era. It has long seeped into every corner of culture through the economy, and the regional distinctiveness of world design is rapidly disappearing. The boundaries between the designs of different nations have become indistinguishable. This theory has also been discussed and accepted by most designers in many contexts. Under this trend, public attention will directly focus on designers with distinct style symbols. Successful designers always incorporate personal character, living environment, and feedback from social influences into their creations, making their designs expressions of their design concepts, life philosophies, aesthetic tastes, and perceptions of the times. In his book The Arts of Mankind, A. de Saint-Exupéry states, "Life is the greatest art of mankind." I believe life is also the creative source and driving force for designers. Therefore, I have attempted to introduce some truly outstanding designers by exploring the conceptual connection between "design + life." This series introduces: Rosemary Tiss from Zurich, a prominent representative of the Swiss typographic style and undoubtedly a symbol of world women designers; George Stainburn, also from Switzerland, a "recluse" among international graphic designers whose works vividly interpret simplicity and wisdom; Tatsuhiko Akashi from Tokyo, widely known in China, with over 40 years of experience in graphic design, whose works always embody leadership in fashion; Philippe Apelo from Paris, whose design works are dominated by typography, filled with humanistic colors; Leonardo Sonori from Italy, also renowned for typography, yet his works are rich in experimental styles; Pekka Rautio from Northern Finland, whose designs reveal a colorful world rather than the geographical and climatic features of his homeland; Christophe Geisler, a professor at the University of Arts in Kassel, Germany, whose works embody his deep understanding of literature and music; and Leiko Sadowski from Germany, David Tatar from Israel, and the Argentine ghost studio, with Anabel Sal and Gabri Matéo, who offer a different interpretation of design, elevating it to political engagement and social consciousness. Their works address nearly all the issues of the modern world: war, violence, hunger, poverty, disease, and the environment. I introduce this design category in the series because every society has inequalities and vulnerable groups, and designers' real-world engagement with society will make the profession of "design" more perfect.