wiedler.ch

book (design) story #583

hans fischli, willy rotzler:
stile olivetti

kunstgewerbemuseum zürich / wegleitung 239, 1961
printer: regina-druck, zürich
size: ?? x ?? cm
designer: walter ballmer

in 1961 the kunstgewerbemuseum zürich organised the exhibiton "stile olivetti" (olivetti style).

the striking cover design is based on a huge red letter "o" for "olivetti".

the catalogue was designed by walter ballmer (*1923), a swiss graphic designer who had studied in basel in the 1940s.

in 1947 ballmer had joined the famous studio boggeri in milan (where also max huber and carlo vivarelli had worked before). among their clients was olivetti, the leading italian manufacturer of typewriters, office equipment and later computers. in 1956 ballmer joined olivetti's in-house advertising department.

the company founded by cestino olivetti and later directed by his son adriano was a pioneer of modern technology in italy, but also known for their social services for employees ...

... and their unique modernist designs, advertisement and buildings.

above a typewriter design by marcello nizzoli ...

... and a keyboard by ettore sottsas.

below right a 1935 poster by swiss bauhäusler xanti schawinsky, ...

... and more graphic designs by schawinsky, giovanni pintori, ...

... and walter ballmer, among others.

ballmer's catalogue layout is very much in the style of "neue grafik".

below a cantine building by ignazio gardella, ...

... and happy kids in an olivetti day nursery.