Elektrosmog

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Awarded

ELEKTROSMOG: Valentin Hindermann / Marco Walser

Various publications 2005 – 2006

Graphic Design

Jury report

Books for art
The jury have awarded a prize to the work of the Zurich graphic design practice 'Elektrosmog', now for the third time. Behind the name are the graphic artists Marco Walser and Valentin Hindermann, who have made a name for themselves with projects for distinguished clients like Kunsthaus Glarus, Kunsthaus Zürich or the Migros Museum of Contemporary art. They are also known for their 'Brauer' and 'Storno' typefaces.
Their entry for the Swiss Federal Design Competition consists of nine books commissioned by various Swiss art museums and publishing houses. The book called 'Nedko Solakov. Leftovers' is an unusual one. It is a catalogue for the exhibition of the same name in the Kunsthaus Zürich about the artist Nedko Solakov. The publication is an inventory of his unsold work – leftovers, indeed. It is arranged by galleries, and presents a record of which works are stored with whom, and the asking price for them. The publication becomes a sales guide through the exhibition and questions and ironizes the art market. The graphic designers, working with the artist, have succeeded in finding an appropriate form for this artistic approach.
This is typical of the way 'Elektrosmog' deal with all their publications and other projects: they carefully feel their way towards to subject or work, so that the publication can be as impactful as possible. The graphic language is developed from the project. The jury praises the two men's professionalism and their admirable portfolio.
Ariana Pradal