Title: Thinking Benno Wissing: Grafische and Ruimtelijke Ontwerpen
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: NAI Publishers (January 1999)
Language: Dutch
Size: 290 x 220 mm / 11.4 x 8.6 inch
Benno Wissing was born in 1923. He was majoring in painting at the Art Academy in Rotterdam. In this book, his work were separated into three periods of time. First, from 1940 to1960 where he became co-founding a cultural centre in Rotterdam which united artists, archives and film-lovers. In this period of time he worked as a designer for Boymans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam. Most of the work were typography dominant. Sometimes he created his own typeface.
Second, from 1960 to1980, It started with his one of his greatest works, the directional signs for the interior of the new Schiphol Airport. He worked together with an interior designer, Kho Liang. He used all Akzidenz Grotesk lower case except for the gate numbers. During this time, Benno Wissing was getting involved to create a first multi disciplinary large scale design studio, in Netherlands. They called themselves Total Design. He teamed up with Wim Crouwel, a graphic designer; Friso Kramer, industrial designer; Friso Kramer, industrial designer; and Dick and Paul schwarz, who were in charge of the aspect of business.
Third, 1980-present, It showed most of his work in the United Sates for example , Austin company, Cleveland Ohio; Wang Corporation, Lowell Massachusetts; HUB terminal American Airlines signage, Raleigh Durham, North Carolina; KVN, Middletown Rhode Island.
It's a lovely paperback with french folding book. The book used three different kinds of papers. It has a nice feeling into it. It's always difficult to see the grid in the Dutch design but I believe it has three and four column grid. I do like the detail for the page and the description of the work. Too bad the text is in Dutch but It's a great collection of Benno Wissing work.