100 Years of Bauhaus

If you ever learn about the history of graphic design, the number one thing you will have to learn is about the Bauhaus. Let me tell you for the longest time I had no idea why it was so damn important. The time I was supposed to learn about it, my professor let me miss class to go to this lecture by Louis Sandhaus (a top tier celebrity in the graphic design world) at the Herman Miller building (so fucking cool there). So when I heard that the Letterform Archive was having an exhibit dedicated to the 100th year of Bauhaus, I had to see it for myself and booked a flight to San Francisco, CA. It also just so happened to be around the same time that the Joy Reserve x LEUNE mall wrap that I designed went up so the timing was perfect. Here’s what I concluded.

What is Bauhaus?

If I had to say in a succinct manner: it was an art and design school founded by German architect Walter Gropius in 1919, that initially combined craft and fine art and later implemented design that would not only set the standard for graphic design, but also push its capabilities. Its first instructors were pioneers in channeling expressionism and constructivism into their typography and design. They are known for their bold sans serif type, use of grids and clean use of negative space.

Why is it so important?

There are so many layers to this, but the Bauhaus is arguably the most influential legacy within twentieth century graphic design. As mentioned prior, the school spearheaded graphic design into a way that was never done before. Due to advances in print, mass production of their radical new art would be available for the world to see. They truly shaped and defined how typography is approached and taught today.