Typography, Poster and Magazine Design At the Bauhaus through the works of Herbert Bayer

Typography, Poster and Magazine Design
At the Bauhaus through the works of Herbert Bayer

The Bauhaus was first established in the twentieth century; it is an art education school which has altered the way art and design is looked at and the understanding of arts to many its offspring's that came to learn in it (Aynsley 2001,60). It has changed the way art is educated throughout the world (Whitford 1984,7). Bauhaus brought up revolutionary artists and designers in which among them was Herbert Bayer (Whitford 1984,8). In this essay I will be discussing the works of Herbert Bayer through typography, poster and magazine design mentioning his most influences, teachers and examples of work at the Bauhaus period.
Herbert Bayer was an Australian graphic designer, typographer, painter and photographer of his time (Aensley 2001,66). Prior to joining the Bauhaus Bayer had some design knowledge which he got through working with an architect in Darmstadt (Whitford 1984,166). His work at that time was very balanced and central symmetrical (191, Cohen). At 1921 Bayer first joined the Bauhaus where throughout the workshops and education in the school Bayer changed the way his work was executed.
Typography was amongst Bayer's premier interests where he was influenced by Moholy and De Stijl (Whitford 1984, 167). In addition to those teachers Bayer also applied Kendisky's teaching on color and Klee's teaching on forms to his typography designs (Aeynsly 2001,66). Bayer has suggested in the Bauhaus period to use the Klienschreibung which means writing all letters with small letters and all capital letters for display design (Aeynsly 2001,66)(Cohen 1984, 215). He said that doing that saves space and money; since the printers had to only have one range of typeface (Cohen 1984, 215). In addition to that Bayer also illuminated the san serif which goes back to the roman type that was simple and direct (Cohen 1984, 215). Not long after his suggestion; publication at the Bauhaus started to use only small letters minuscule's (Cohen 1984, 215). The Universal Type (single alphabet type) was one of the most known types of Bayer in which he made a type design based on a circle where he used only few arcs, angels and vertical and horizontal lines(Cohen 1984, 215). The universal type was used in his posters, post cards and magazines. The fashion magazine die neue linie is an example where he used the universal type (Aeynsly 2001, 60).
Poster design by Herbert Bayer went through many stages before during and after the Bauhaus. Before the Bauhaus Bayer's posters were very influenced by Ludwig Hohlwein's. At the Bauhaus Bayer has formed a strategy to solving the design problem; as Cohen said in the book 'Herbert Bayer the complete work' " The solution must be rigorously proportioned; a balance and internal harmony must be established among otherwise diverse and incompatible elements; form must be thoroughly investigated, colors direct and evocative; the text must be situated within the composition as a typographic element no less definitely positioned and balanced than are other more explicitly visual elements"(Cohen 1984, 191).
Herbert Bayer became the art director of the die neue linie magazine in 1928; He has made modernist ideas and art broader and more acceptable to the public (Aeynsly 2001, 60).