series of editorials on prominent designers
wilhelm deffke created over ten thousand commercial logos, but it wasn’t just the quantity that turned out to be quite astonishing for his time.
deffke also was one of the first graphic designers who put all his professional effort into that field, way before paul rand, saul bass and other better-known pioneers of visual identity.
Wilhelm Deffke and his poster design for High School for Decorative Art, 1912. © The Estate of Wilhelm Deffke.
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The suspension railroad in Elberfeld, Germany, circa 1921.
born in Elberfeld, Germany
07
graduates from Elberfeld School
of Applied Arts
09
starts his 1-year apprenticeship in Peter Behrens’ studio
Peter Behrens' assistants at work: Mies van der Rohe, Adolf Meyer, Max Hertwig, Bernhard Weyrather, Jean Krämer and Walter Gropius, 1908. © Wikimedia Commons.
10
gives lectures on trademark design at the Reimann School in Berlin
15
founds the Wilhelmwerk advertising studio in Berlin
Signet for Dr. Richard Mauch & Co.
Mammut signet, 1916–24.
Bull signet.
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the Seidels Reklame magazine dedicates an entire issue to Deffke’s works
Seidels Reklame magazine, 1923.
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is appointed the director of School of Arts and Crafts in Magdeburg
50
dies at age 63 in Woltersdorf, Germany
creating marks is best left to professionals with experience, practice and the artistic strength to make them unique. —wilhelm deffke
