The Swiss designers who took Paris by storm

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Jean Widmer, Galeries Lafayette, unpublished advertisement, 1959 Museum für Gestaltung

Jean Widmer, Le vêtement, exhibition poster, Centre de Création Industrielle, 1971 Museum für Gestaltung

Visuel Design, Jean Widmer, Centre Georges Pompidou, logo proof, 1977 Museum für Gestaltung

Fred Rawyler, Indreco fashion show invitation card, summer 1967 Museum für Gestaltung

Peter Knapp (photo), Sonja Knapp (metal outfit sample), Grace Jones pour Ungaro, Bo-dy Sculptures fashion campaign, 1969, Modern Print: 2016 Museum für Gestaltung

André Baldinger, Eiffel-Level2, font family, 2005−2009 Museum für Gestaltung

Adrian Frutiger, Study on the font OCR-B, ca. 1963 Museum für Gestaltung

Bruno Pfäffli, Pierre Disderot Luminaires, advertising brochure, 1965-1968 Museum für Gestaltung

Visual Design Association Hiestand & Associés, pictogram Centre Georges Pompidou, ca. 1974 Museum für Gestaltung

Visual Design Association, Hiestand & Associés, signage Centre Georges Pompidou, 1977 Museum für Gestaltung

Bruno Pfäffli, Univers Schema, in: Monotype Newsletter, 1963 Museum für Gestaltung

Fred Rawyler, afh 77, perfume bottle for Courrèges, ca. 1977 Romito Umberto

Eldorado / Bruno Suter (Art Director), Happy New Noël, advertisment Galeries Lafayette, ca. 1990 Museum für Gestaltung

Albert Hollenstein, Hollenstein Phototypo, font design catalogue, 1971 Museum für Gestaltung

Peter Knapp, Elia Fouli, Sandra et les lunettes Courrèges, in: Elle, 1965 Museum für Gestaltung

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Paris was a magnet for a number of Swiss graphic designers and typographers in the 1950s and 1960s. A new exhibition celebrates their work.

Jean Widmer, Galeries Lafayette, unpublished advertisement, 1959 Museum für Gestaltung

They went in search of artistic inspiration, creative freedom and work. Despite their young ages, Swiss designers managed to position themselves in top jobs. Like Adrian Frutiger at the typography firm Deberny & Peignot. And Peter Knapp and Jean Widmer’s work for the famous Galeries Lafayette department store.

These Swiss artists had an advantage, having undergone modernist training back home that Paris hadn’t yet introduced. In return, Paris afforded them an international environment and passionate work. 

The show, “The Swiss of Paris”, at the Museum for Design in Zurich looks at around 20 Swiss artists who made Paris their home. Major works are exhibited in themes ranging from photography to advertising graphics.