ElectricSun

Otl Aicher was responsible for some of the most innovative graphic design and visual communications of the 20th century.

In 1953, he established the Hochschule für Gestaltung (College of Design) in his home town of Ulm, Germany. This led him to be commissioned to create visual identities for Lufthansa and Braun as well as creating the complete design package for the 1972 Munich olympic games, for which he is most widely known. He established the pictogram system, using stick figures to depict the olympic events, a style which has now become commonplace in everyday design. He also created the first olympic mascot, Waldi the dachshund.

In 1988, he created the very popular Rotis typeface (which is not one of my personal favourites), used by the likes of Renault and Nokia. He died as the result of a tragic accident in 1991.

Check out the enviable collection of original prints and merchandise that have survived the last 38 years, here.
There are also photographs of Aicher’s work from the 2008 Otl Aicher exhibition in San José, and the 2009 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art exhibition, courtesy of joecompany on Flickr.