The history of international typographic style — is it timeless?
The history of international typographic style, also known as Swiss Style, dates back to the 1940s and gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. The design movement was founded in Switzerland and emphasized grid-based designs and classic sans serif typefaces. Josef Müller-Brockmann, considered the father of Swiss graphic design, played a significant role in its adoption, writing influential design books like Grid Systems in Graphic Design. Even after more than half a century, Swiss Style remains relevant in contemporary digital design, as its principles lead to user-friendly and visually aesthetic designs. Another contemporary design movement, flat design, emerged in the early 2000s and was influenced by Swiss Style. Flat design utilizes 2D elements, grid systems, and sans serif fonts to create minimalist and geometric designs. It is still widely used in user interfaces, mobile apps, and websites for its simplicity, clarity, and ease of use. The timeless principles of Swiss Style, such as simplicity, clarity, functionality, and objectivity, continue to guide modern designers today.