Compose two styles
Rather than blending two styles into a middle, this assigns them roles: one carries the structure, the other appears as an accent. Where the two fight, it says so before you start.
How to divide the work
- Composition
- Follow Bauhaus: Treat shapes and letters as the same building blocks
- Type
- Set in Bauhaus's manner (Geometric sans-serif), and let Swiss's lettering (Neutral sans-serif; be bold with size contrast) appear only where you want the eye to catch.
- Material
- Ground in Bauhaus's material (Red, blue and yellow held together by black and off-white); bring in exactly one thing from Swiss (White space and objective photographs; almost no ornament).
- Colour
- Build on #eee7d4, #df2c22, #153f8c and admit one accent from #f1efe8, #ed3b22, #121210.
Where they fight
- Both belong to Functionalism, so the difference is small. Push the roles further apart than feels comfortable.
Caution
- Bauhaus Scattered shapes read as childish. Give every element a job.
- Swiss Too much tidiness turns anonymous. Keep one strong jump in scale.
Image prompt
An original image that takes its structure from Bauhaus (Style, 1919–1933) and its accent from Swiss (Style, 1950s–). Structural cues: Elementary shapes; Primary colors; Functional beauty; Visible structure. Accent cues, used sparingly: Strict grid; Sans-serif type; Asymmetry; Objective photography. Composition: Treat shapes and letters as the same building blocks. Type and lettering: Geometric sans-serif. Let one material quality come from the second style: White space and objective photographs; almost no ornament. Mood: Trust, Play, Calm. Color: build on #eee7d4, #df2c22, #153f8c with a single accent drawn from #f1efe8, #ed3b22, #121210. Constraints: do not imitate, reference or name any specific artist, studio, brand, character or copyrighted work. Produce an original composition in the general period languages described above.
Related entries
- Bauhaus 1919–1933 / Style / Functionalism
Makes function and play coexist through the circle, triangle and square.
- Swiss 1950s– / Style / Functionalism
Puts order front and center and makes the information itself the protagonist.
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