“The aim has always been to convey a message clearly, concisely and with originality,” Harder says. “Beyond serving his client's needs, if a designer is to play his part in society, his work should be esthetically satisfying, intellectually stimulating and imaginative—in short, in harmony with human needs. This may be considered his modest contribution toward a more livable and less visually polluted and confusing environment."
Rolf Harder was born on July 10 1929 in Hamburg, Germany. He studied at the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts. After working between two countries, German and Canada in 1959, he established his own studio, Rolf Harder Design. In 1965, he collaborated with three partners, Ernst Roch, Anthony Mann and Al Faux to form Design Collaborative. In 1978, he formed Rolf Harder & Assoc. Inc in Montreal. His clients include The National Arts Centre, The National Gallery of Canada, The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The Royal Bank, Hoffmann-La Roche and many more.
Over his career he has won more than 100 national and international design awards and prizes. His works have been published numerously in books and magazines. He presented in exhibitions in five continents.