Task 2 - Modernist design.

Vladimir Majakovskij - For the Voice - 1923

www.bookworks.plus.com

The design above is from an experimental typographic book containing poems within which the design was supposed to enhance the meaning and delivery of the poems. It is by an artist called Majakovskij and shows very clear modernist features such as the use of new found printing techniques allowing for more experimental type and the strict use of geometric forms to create images.

 El Lissitzky - Russland journal - 1930

http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=16286

This is a magazine cover for 'Russland' by El Lissitzky, a prominent Russian designer in the constructivist movement. Again there is a clear division being made clear by the designer between this piece and more classical art, moving away from realistic depictions into silhouetted black & white figures and again the use of geometric forms, this time, laid over the background image.

Jan Tschichold - Ausstellung Emil Nolde. - 1928

www.postersplease.com

Above is a poster for the 'Grand Nolde' exhibition in Munich by Jan Tschichold, a really interesting designer focusing on type and layout predominantly. This shows the movement of type away from 'Blackletter' and ornate styles which distract from what the type is saying towards much cleaner and simpler type designed only to aid in the messages readability. There is also the clear use of grid layout which became popular as a result of the movement towards clearer typography.

 

Paul Colin - Katherine Dunham - 1945

www.barewalls.com/pv-399954_Katherine-Dunham.html

Here is a poster by the designer Paul Colin, working in Paris in 1945. Again although traditional media, there is a clear element of the artists desire to move away from classical art styles and produce something more abstract. This simple image has been combined with some very clear type on a plain background to make the poster as clear as possible.

Wassily Kandinsky - 1922

http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/painting1914-1921.php

This final piece is one by Wassily Kandinsky, produced in 1922, in the midst of the constuctivist period. Although it is in some parts, rather rough and appears hand drawn, it has been combined with some rather more uniform parts to create a very geometric layout.