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Swiss designer Josef Mller-Brockmann established himself as one of the most important and prolific voices of twentieth century graphic design, setting up his own studio in Zurich in 1936 and working until his death in 1996 for numerous clients, creating a countless quantity of design for posters, which he considered barometers of social economic, political and cultural events, as well as mirrors of intellectual and practical activities.

Mller-Brockmann is perhapsbest-known as graphic designs foremost proponent of grid systems to assist in functional, objective design. The grid system allowed Mller-Brockmann to organize his subject matter to create more effective design, to not be overwhelmed by the seeming chaos and complexity of design decisions. In many ways, Mller-Brockmann is the perfect subject to study for a representative understanding of the so-called Swiss Design movement.

Mller-Brockmanns work ranged from social/civic projects such as posters for the Swiss Automobile Club and Zrich Police to commercial projects for IBM (for whom he was design advisor in western Europe), Rosenthal and Hermes Typewriters. His large body of work, created as graphic design gained importance during the20th century, serves as a gauge for the study of design history and acted as a harbinger for what was to come.

Illustrated by images of the final designs but also by sketches, production drawings, and unused design drafts from Mller-Brockmanns archive and with long captions explaining in detail the design structure and the brief given by the client this monograph gives a complete visual understanding of Mller-Brockmanns growth as a graphic designer. It is an essential volume for anyone interested in the history of graphic design, design students and professional designers.