A Universal Language of Form

The ISOTYPE movement was a major period in graphic design history that was introduced by Otto Neurath in 1936. One of the major breakthroughs in design was the lexicons, a pictoral language for communicating complex information simply. Rudolph Modley created a dictionary full of pictoral symbols that could be used and understood around the world. To assist graphic designers Ladislav Sutnar put together a book of different layouts that would help make large amounts of information easliy understood.

Many modernist graphic designers escaped Europe at the beginning of World War II, but when coming to America discovered that America wasn't interested in modern art. American design was boringly informal and uninsperational. However, many designers still strived to design for modernism. Even though modern style resources, such as fonts, were unavaiable designers such as Lester Beal, made due with what was within reach. At the time most modernist graphic designers were self taught. Paul Rand's quest was to "make the familiar unfamiliar." It was this generation of designers that strives to inspire and teach the next generation modern styles, like Alexy Brodoritch. By combining mathematical engineering and theories Claude Shannon set the first stage for the development of the first digital computers.

Swiss design not only influenced graphic designers but improved the design in America. American designers would study in Switzerland to bring back their knowledge and style of design. Anton Stankowski was responsible for creating visual forms to communicate invisible processes and physical forces using geometric shapes and lines.

I recently started learning about icons and 'lexicons' and have never appreciated the idea behind it as much as I do now. I never thought twice when looking at an symbol of a luggage bag in an airport. Its incredible how important simple everyday things have become in every one's lives.