Otl Aicher: Munchen 1972 June 28, 2009

With his graphic design work for the Munich 1972 Olympic Games, Otl Aicher (whose brand identities include those of Braun and Lufthansa) developed a comprehensive system to articulate the Games' character across a wide range of materials, from signage to printed materials and even staff uniforms. Works in this exhibition include official posters and sporting event tickets, and demonstrate the design tools Aicher used to join individual elements to the collective: structural grids, clear hierarchies of information, a bold and animating color palette, and ingenious pictograms. Aicher's orderly and pleasant design nimbly carried the weight of modern German history as it repositioned the nation's hospitality on the world stage.