Kiyonori Muroga, Nicole Schmid (eds.)

Helmut Schmid Typography
Helmut Schmid Typografie

Helmut Schmid was a master of his craft. The Austrian typographer put his own spin on Emil Ruder’s teachings at the Basel School of Design while remaining faithful to the principles of clarity, simplicity and elegance. Blending eastern and western influences, Schmid honed his skills and put them into practice in the fields of editorial design, packaging of ethical drugs and the visual identity of brands such as Pocari Sweat sports drink (Otsuka Pharmaceutical), Maquillage (Shiseido) and IPSA. He also produced publications, such as the famous journal “Typographic Reflections.”

“Helmut Schmid Typography” explores the typographer’s oeuvre in its entirety. The book’s generous design allows each image to breathe, and the accompanying texts narrate Schmid’s life and career in an informative and pleasant manner. Complementing the publications “Weingart: Typography” and “Ruder Typography, Ruder Philosophy,” this bilingual monograph completes the Basel school of typographic thought.

Helmut Schmid was a master of his craft. The Austrian typographer put his own spin on Emil Ruder’s teachings at the Basel School of Design while remaining faithful to the principles of clarity, simplicity and elegance. Blending eastern and western influences, Schmid honed his skills and put them into practice in the fields of editorial design, packaging of ethical drugs and the visual identity of brands such as Pocari Sweat sports drink (Otsuka Pharmaceutical), Maquillage (Shiseido) and IPSA. He also produced publications, such as the famous journal “Typographic Reflections.”

“Helmut Schmid Typography” explores the typographer’s oeuvre in its entirety. The book’s generous design allows each image to breathe, and the accompanying texts narrate Schmid’s life and career in an informative and pleasant manner. Complementing the publications “Weingart: Typography” and “Ruder Typography, Ruder Philosophy,” this bilingual monograph completes the Basel school of typographic thought.

Author(s): Helmut Schmid

Edited by Kiyonori Muroga, Nicole Schmid

With contributions by Helmut Schmid, Kiyonori Muroga

Design: Nicole Schmid

22,6 × 29,6 cm, 9 × 11 ½ in

240 pages, 535 illustrations

hardback

2023, 978-3-03778-739-7, German
English
CHF 55.00

Helmut Schmid

Helmut Schmid Foto

Helmut Schmid (1942–2018) was a graphic designer, author and teacher and one of the most renowned typographers of the 20th century. Born in Ferlach, Austria, as a German citizen, he was trained as a typesetter before attending typography classes at the Schule für Gestaltung Basel. After a brief stint at Ernst Roch in Montreal, Schmid went to Vancouver before moving to Osaka to work for Nippon International Agency (NIA). In 1971, he returned to Europe and worked at ARE agency designing publicity material for the Press Office of the German Government, for the German Social Democratic Party and the German chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt. In 1977, Schmid returned to Japan where he again worked for NIA, designing for Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. During his lifetime, Schmid has contributed numerous essays on typography to international magazines such as Typografische Monatsblätter, idea, baseline, and Novum.