Penguin Book Covers - Max Huber research

Max Huber

Huber was greatly influenced by many of the designers that were displaced to Zurich during the war and who formed the Swiss style of design, which used structured grids, sans serif type and left hand margins. They believed strongly in clarity and the simplest formation of an idea which led to pure and clean design. The design climate in Zurich was very experimental at this time, with multiple disciplines influencing each other, providing a range of inspiration for the art world in general. Huber believed that design could bring order back to the world after the war  and people were excited by this new hopeful type of design. His own self-expression within projects was just as important for him, as the client’s needs. He wanted projects to be worthwhile and enhance his own practice through experimentation.

Rhythm and movement is an important theme throughout Hubers work, which he explored through the relationship between signs and colours. Influenced by experimental techniques, whilst having a strong background in Swiss design he was able to combine these things to make commercially viable design. There is also a Futurist feel to his designs as many make reference to machines. His use of images are often layered up to further enhance a sense of movement using static imagery. By structuring his design elements and keeping them simple such as bold shapes and primary colours, this allowed him to have more freedom with the imagery. The structure reduces the design decisions and allows for more experimental image making to take place. Elements within in his work interlink and flow between each other through the use of colour similarities and repeated imagery. Information is presented in hierarchical groups dependant on the content which creates a sense of importance in the information presented. The clean, geometric style of his work is still very relevant today.