Graphic Design of the 3rd Reich

Between the two world wars, Germany because a cultural hub. Style of graphic design was influenced by cubism. It eventually evolved into an Art Deco Moderne Style. Graphic design made a dramatic transition form older styles into a style we would recognize as modern.

Art Deco Moderne expressed the designs of a modern era and passion for geometric decoration for a machine age. It's an internationally popular style that evolved at that time that signifies a major change in aesthetic sensibility in graphic design, architectursal, and product design.

Some important designers of this time were Edward Kauffer, AM Cassandre, Jean Carlo, and Joseph Kinder. All of them incorporated cubism into their work.

Ludwig Hohlwien was a great illustrator who was commissioned by the Nazi party to create propaganda posters.

Graphic Design of this time was very propagandistic and promoted nationality, distrust of enemies, and paranoia of spies. Chagne in attitude of the propaganda also accompanied the changes in style. An example of this is the Montgomery FLag 1944 WWII poster that promoted patriotism and anti Japanese sentiment. Uncle Sam turned from just patriotic, to angry.

Maholy Nagy used photoplastic technique and showed micro and macro elements. (micro - a close up view of a face collaged with macro elements, such as a view of an entire crowd.)

Herbert Matter pioneered new graphic design techniques by integrating black and white photography with signs and areas of color. His influences affected later practioners of the International and Typographic Styles. Matter's Posters are considered masterpieces of the 20th century.