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Posters (Affiches, Plakate, ポスター).

Last night saw the opening of Posters (Affiches, Plakate, ポスター), a week-long exhibition organized by Manual & hosted at Zinc Details. The exhibition features rare and significant modernist posters designed by notable Swiss, Dutch, German, and Japanese designers. The collection is amassed from a handful of private collections including the collection of Manual, and features works by Wim Crouwel, Josef Müller-Brockmann, Armin Hofmann, Otl Aicher, Hans Neuburg, Paul Rand, Massimo Vignelli, Ikko Tanaka and Yusaku Kamekura.

Posters (Affiches, Plakate, ポスター) is the first time these privately owned pieces have been seen together, with many posters on display for the first time in many years. The exhibition brings together designers and collectors from around the Bay Area to exhibit, discuss and celebrate the art of mid-century modernist poster design.

At the opening event, Manual’s Creative Director Tom Crabtree was joined by local designers and poster collectors Brent Couchman, Jon Sueda, and Gary Williams for a panel discussion.

Letterform Archive talk: Color as Character

Last week we filled a room at Letterform Archive for Tom Crabtree’s salon talk, Color as Character.

Surrounded by a chromatic array of artifacts pulled from the Archive’s collection, Tom traced a path from early sources of inspiration to the identities we create today, with color as the main character throughout. Along the way: a rainbow sweater from childhood, fluorescent screen prints from college, and a kaleidoscopic mix of historical influences, including David Hockney, Eduardo Paolozzi, Piet Zwart, Otl Aicher, and Wim Crouwel.

The evening offered a personal look at Tom’s relationship with color, and the role it continues to play in shaping the way we design at Manual.

Thanks to everyone who came out, and to our friends and neighbors at Letterform Archive for hosting, especially Stephen and Angie.