The Bauhaus & Saul Bass

By Henry Westray & Kate Tyrer

Modernism• A style or movement in the arts that aims to depart significantly from classical

and traditional forms.• Characterized by a deliberate rejection of the styles of the past; emphasizing

instead innovation and experimentation in forms, materials and techniques in order to create artworks that better reflected modern society (tate.org)

The Bauhaus in Dessau designed by the German architect Walter Gropius. It ran from 1919 to 1933. It was crated thanks to the anxieties of the 19th century on the coldness of manufacturing. The hope to bring together art and industrial design.

Johannes Itten

Paul Klee

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy

World War and the loss of design• Due to the world war effort, the progression of design was put on

hold.• The Bauhaus would have lost artistic creativity due to the control of

art and media by the Nazi party.• Once the war passed, creativity was ignited again, and allowed

designers to pursue their once forgotten designs.• Artists such as Saul Bass began to emerge in the design world, and

love of modernism flourished.

• Born 1920 in New York• Graphic designer and film maker• He worked for over 40 years, from

1954 to 1995 (died 1996)• Best known for his film posters,

title sequences and logo designs• Designed titles for over 30 films

Brief History of Saul Bass

Saul Bass’ style• Simple, geometric shapes• ‘cut -paper’ hand drawn shapes• Minimalistic, with single, dominant

images• Block colours, often warm tones• Sharp lines• Use of black in contrast with bright

colours

Saul Bass’ inspiration• Much of Saul Bass’ inspiration came from Russian Constructivism and the Bauhaus’ design• The influence of the Bauhaus’ recognisable geometric shapes, use of block colours and

contrasting black, and use of text is clearly evident in Bass’ work.

• Similar is the inspiration that Russian constructivism gave, with the use of contrasting colour and black and white, the ‘hand-cut’ style, bold and sharp lines, and the use of the human figure.

• Otto Preminger’s 1954 film ‘Carmen Jones’ gave Bass his big break• The producers then asked Bass

to design their title credits

Saul Bass and Modernism

• Saul Bass’ graphic design was untraditional and against the norm. Other film posters and logos, throughout many decades, often used wide ranges of colours shading, and different shapes and textures, evolving over time, whereas Bass used geometric designs and a selective use of colour. Although Bass maintained his signature style, his designs were always as stimulating and current.

1955 1957 1958

Other film posters in the 1950s

1968 •Finer Lines•More detail and texture•Continued use of black, white, and coloured contrast•Use of the human figure

Other film posters in the 1960s

Other film posters in the 1970s

• More textured, rough rather than sharp lines

• Use of gradient coloured background rather than block colours

• Use of pattern

• Continued use of black

1993O

ther film posters in the 1990s

‘The Man with the Golden Arm’ Title sequence

Bass and Modernism in film production• Not only were the physical designs of Bass revolutionary, but his work also had a

huge impact on the way in which film titles and credits in films were perceived and later used.• Traditionally, credits were considered unimportant in the 1950s and 60s; they would

actually be projected onto the closed curtains, which would only open for the first official scene of the film.• But Bass chose to create exciting graphics that moved across the screen, blending

into one another and incorporating other images; making a rich cinematic experience. • “Titles became a spectacle to be seen. Film reels with Bass credits were delivered to

movie theaters along with a note: “projectionist – pull curtain before titles.” 99 designs

• Bass also designed some of the most iconic corporate logos in North America; some companies have not yet redesigned these logos, showing how ageless Bass’ work is. • Kosé Cosmetics (1959), Kibun (1964), Warner Communications (1972)

still use his designs.• He also designed the logos of the Girl Scouts (1978) and Geffen

Records’ (1980) that have since been slightly modified, but with the essential look remaining.• His other logo designs include those of Bell, AT & T and Kleenex.

Logo design

• Bass’ minimalistic style was incredibly influential in the world of design. • "The ideal trademark is one that is pushed to its utmost limits in terms of

abstraction and ambiguity, yet is still readable. Trademarks are usually metaphors of one kind or another. And are, in a certain sense, thinking made visible."• This way of thinking resonates today in the simple logo of Google's

homepage, the Apple logo, and the tiles of Microsoft's redesign for windows’ phones, tablets and computers.

Work Inspired by Saul Bass

Poster campaign promoting a blood donation campaign, designed by Young & Rubicam.

Title sequence for Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can, designed by Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Deygas

"If it’s simple simple, it’s boring...We try for the idea that is so simple that it will make you think

and rethink...Design is thinking made visual” Saul Bass