More than Generally Dynamic
This is a highly unlikely post. It was inspired by a visit to a mall, which doesn’t happen very often for me because I detest them. It also happens to be related to a huge defense contractor, the fifth largest in the world in fact, which is even weirder than the mall bit. A certain store in said mall had some poster reprints up for decorative purposes and they caught my eye because a) they were surprisingly tasteful in a vintage Swiss poster kind of way and b) they had a very 2001: Space Odyssey brand of cool. I was intrigued.
All the posters read General Dynamics on the bottom. Interesting name. Vague, very vague. Almost fake sounding. General is as nondescript as you get really, and then you have Dynamic which is, well full of energy and optimism. Kubrick couldn’t have come up with a better name. I looked into the posters a bit. Turns out they were all designed by Erik Nitsche a Swiss designer born in 1908 who is best know for his relationship with General Dynamics from 1955 – 1965, when the company was mainly in the aircraft production business.
General Dynamics Posters (click to enlarge)
Nitsche completely branded General Dynamics beginning with their logo and continuing to design countless printed collateral pieces, annual reports and posters. Its truly masterful work.
Steven Heller compares Nitsche’s accomplishments with those of fellow modernists Paul Rand and Saul Bass in this 1999 Typotheque article. Los Angeles designers Katie Varrati and Derrick Schultz maintain a wonderful archive of Nitsche’s work on their flickr page. I’ve taken the liberty of choosing a few to show here. Enjoy.
General Dynamics Annual Report Covers (click to enlarge)
General Dynamics 1953 Annual Report Spreads (click to enlarge)
General Dynamics Ads (click to enlarge)
Thanks for this post Deroy…Another designer who was ahead of his time to research…awesome
Comment by Eileen — Dec 18, 2009 @ 10:24 am
really amazing stuff. scary in its beauty and vagueness.
Comment by Alan — Jan 05, 2010 @ 6:01 am
Do you know where to get prints of these? These are really amazing.
Comment by Will — Jan 28, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
I want some too. Could you tell us what store was displaying these?
Comment by scott — Feb 23, 2010 @ 6:29 pm
Sure thing. I found some awesome vintage prints at International Poster Gallery, but they ain’t cheap. In the $1000 to $2000 range. Also found some stuff on eBay. Modcloth had a beautiful print I had never seen before of a subway poster for only $29, but I think its sold out. That’s about all I’ve been able to find.
Also, I found a few more nice collections of his work (not for sale) here:
Iconographics
Bibliodyssey
Flickr
NitscheArchive
Comment by Deroy Peraza — Feb 24, 2010 @ 9:19 pm
Nitsche’s work blew me away the first time I saw it, back in 98 – but I’ve never been able to afford them (although I’m getting closer). If they’re being reproduced by somebody I’m all over it – which mall was this and what was the store?
Comment by Andrew — Mar 25, 2010 @ 3:14 am
I second the demand for cheaper reproductions of these. They’re beautiful and amazing. It’s too bad they’re totally inaccessible. I’ve basically gotten the point where I’m going to just make my own based on some scans out of magazines one can get on eBay. Not ideal to say the least.
I’ve also wondered if Nitsche didn’t have a hand in designing the IAEA logo. It is very Nitsche-esque, definitely the funkiest of all of the UN designs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_IAEA.svg
Comment by Jim — May 16, 2010 @ 9:37 am