Otl Aicher

Pictograms

Aicher’s designed signage system made their first appearances in the Frankfurt Airport and Munich Olympics, back when “well-designed” and effective signage was not credited to designers and were regarded to have little societal influence, as they did not directly contribute to political and economic systems. Meanwhile, Aicher was working toward the goal of “design neutrality” that ensured objectivity and understanding that transcended cultural barriers. Behind this methodology is the design grid, which he used to set small, formal graphic units “graphemes” and apply preset standards-- avoiding abstraction and instead seeking cogent fit in a larger system. Aicher recognized the charm of irregularity, but believed “the formal and technical advantages of standardized elements were more important.” His view on the pictogram is exemplified in the general visual quality of his work that valued “visual objectivity… over the designer’s individual style.” (Rathgeb 125)