Unit Editions has published the first comprehensive monograph of the work of German-born designer FHK Henrion (1914-1990).
“As a British citizen after WWII, he designed publications, exhibitions, household products, interiors and jewellery, and in the 1960s he became the founding father of modern corporate identity in Europe.”
Henrion was awarded both the MBE (in 1951) and the OBE (in 1985).
His reputation was already established when he designed KLM’s identity in 1961, but it didn’t stop the Dutch airline questioning his design. Apparently, KLM accepted the design only after protracted deliberation, considering it too advanced. It is perhaps testament to KLM’s vision and courage that the symbol entered service at all, but the fact that it is still in use today — even following KLM’s merger with Air France in 2004 (to form Air France-KLM) — is testament to Henrion’s simple, bold and undeniably modern design.
(The above paragraph is excerpted from Symbol.)
Blue Circle Group logo, 1970
National Theatre logo, 1971
The book is available for pre-order. Shipping in November 2013.
More info:
Design Coordination and Corporate Image, by FHK Henrion and Alan Parkin
FHK Henrion Flickr group
FHK Henrion on Designers Journal
FHK Henrion bio on AGI
