Journal

The ShUM sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz are central witnesses to Jewish history in Germany and Europe. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish communities in these cities formed the centre of European Jewry and had a lasting influence on Jewish culture with important synagogues, ritual baths and houses of learning. ShUM stands for the Hebrew names of Speyer, Worms and Mainz, and is considered the cradle of Ashkenazi Judaism. The stamps, which will be issued in December 2024, pay tribute to the ShUM sites both as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and as important centres of Jewish history.

Vista won an internal design competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance. The design takes up key architectural and cultural elements of the ShUM sites and presents them in a modern and clear design language. The official publication of the stamps was celebrated on 5 December 2024 at a ceremony in the ballroom of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Chancellery in Mainz. Representatives from culture, politics and society attended the event to underline the cultural importance of the SchUM sites and to present the stamps to a wide audience.

In the current issue, THE DORF - THE MAG once again takes readers on an exciting discovery tour through Düsseldorf's creative scene. The editorial team sheds light on the city's hotspots, introduces inspiring personalities and offers insights into the region's contemporary culture. Once again, the magazine shows how diverse and dynamic Düsseldorf's creative community is and how many exciting projects and stories enrich the city. This year's issue also contains an updated address section, which documents the latest developments in Düsseldorf's gastronomy and shopping scene every year. THE DORF - THE MAG is published in English and is available from store.thedorf.de.

On 20 July, graduates of the Department of Design at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences had the opportunity to present their portfolios to representatives of the design and creative industries during the Werkschau. vista was part of this format, which aims to ease the transition from university to practice for young designers and to support them on their way into the creative industry. Between 11am and 1pm, individual feedback sessions were held in the atrium of Building 6, where the graduates received valuable insights and suggestions for their career paths. In addition to vista, other experienced creative studios such as arndtteunissen, Grand Quest and nowakteufelknyrim took part in the format. The bi-anual check-out is not only an opportunity for exchange and feedback, but also an important first step towards the participants' professional future.

Japanese happiness is not the happiness of the Japanese. It is open to all cultures. However, it is Japanese aesthetics that have devoted more attention and dedication to the reconciliation of human beings and nature with the cycle of life than Western aesthetic theory that focuses on disinterested pleasure. It therefore opens up a particularly accessible approach to the experience of the happiness of inner peace. Through 27 artifacts and their stories, this book shows how beauty can make you happy and includes essays that discuss the current state of happiness research in philosophy, sociology, neuroscience, and Japanese studies. “Japanese Happiness” was published in May 2024 to accompany the exhibition of the same name at the Japanese Cultural Institute in Cologne. The book is available in bookstores and at www.optikbooks.de/japanesehappiness.

We had the pleasure of being commissioned to do sino AG's annual report again this year. In addition to the obligatory financial figures, the publication is shaped by a review of 25 years of company history. To mark this anniversary, we developed a journey through the company's history. Year by year, the evolution and achievements of sino AG up to the present day are traced - supplemented by illustrated references to key events in recent history.

Welcome Eli! As of March 15, 2024, Eli Alaimo di Loro will join vista as a designer on board at vista. Eli studied Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf and graduated with a Master's degree. Eli will support us with our digital, brand and editorial projects. We are very excited about this new addition to our team.

Between Books, the first art book fair at the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, will take place from November 9 to 12, 2023. A premiere for the state capital of Düsseldorf: an art book fair similar to those that have been successfully held in New York, Berlin or Vienna for many years. At Between Books, independent art book publishers, artists, independent publishing/DIY collectives, organizations, associations, zines and magazines are invited to present themselves to a wide audience in the exhibition space of the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf and to show how versatile, exciting and contemporary the medium of the book can be. The focus is on the local and regional publishing scene, but protagonists from all over Germany and neighboring European countries will also be represented. From the numerous applications received in response to the Open Call for Participation, 75 exhibitors have been selected for Between Books. The vista team will be present at the fair with the OPTIK BOOKS book program. We are looking forward to exchanging ideas with colleagues from the industry and finding lots of new inspiration!

The book “PUMA - The Graphic Heritage” reconstructs the graphic development of the global brand step by step: from the first letterhead in the early post-war years and the worldwide campaigns of renowned design agencies to the creation of iconic sneaker lines such as TRINOMIC or DISC and the innovative typography for football jerseys. Around 1,000 rare images from the company's archives illustrate the special relationship between sport and design. The book “PUMA - The Graphic Heritage”, conceived and designed by vista, was presented to the public at a launch event in Berlin in October. It is now available in bookstores and at www.optikbooks.de/puma.

Together with our friends and the team of THE DORF we look at the year with disbelief, but yes, it's true: THE DORF will be 10 years old in 2024. Launched in 2014 as an online magazine, the seventh print issue is also an anniversary issue. We are especially pleased to be able to celebrate this milestone with a creative interpretation of “10 years of THE DORF” in the magazine together with ten designer friends from Düsseldorf. The magazine is also packed with inspiration, stories and practical tips, addresses and dates for the coming year. Enjoy reading and discovering and see you in Düsseldorf.

The evolution of the machines of the computer age is a story of groundbreaking innovation. From the beginnings of computer technology through bulky mainframes to the era of personal computers. The new book “The Computer” edited and designed by vista, takes readers from the first analog computing machines in the 19th century, through early experiments with autonomous driving in the 1920s and oversized office computers in the 1950s, to the laptops and wearables of today. With its 472 pages, the publication uses infographics to explain basic technical concepts. Historical graphic design and rare photographs bring the history of major technology companies to life. Published by TASCHEN, the book is aimed at technology enthusiasts and anyone interested in culture, business, politics, and science, and is available in bookstores now.

KSZ ist die erste umfassende Monografie zu den Kugelschreiberzeichnungen der Künstlerin Caroline Kryzecki. Startpunkt der Werkserie, die mittlerweile über 240 Zeichnungen umfasst, war ein sechsmonatiger Stipendienaufenthalt 2012 in Istanbul. Die Zeichnungen von Caroline Kryzecki ähneln kalligrafischen Übungen mit Lineal und Kugelschreiber. Die feinen Linien in den klassischen Kugelschreiberfarben Blau, Schwarz, Rot und Grün füllen die oft großformatigen Blätter mit optisch flirrenden Mustern. Sie veranschaulichen konzeptuelle Aneignungen und Variationen einer ästhetischen Praxis, die ursprünglich aus einem Produktionsfehler hervorging, dem Moiré-Effekt. vista gestaltete die hochwertig produzierte Monografie, die neben den Werkabbildungen ein Essay von Eva Meyer-Hermann und ein Gespräch mit Oliver Zybok sowie zahlreiche Ausstellungsansichten enthält.

Welcome, Anna! From July 15, 2023, Anna Pommer is on board as a permanent designer at vista. Anna studied communication design at the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf and graduated with a Master's degree. She will support us in the future with our digital, branding and editorial projects. We are very happy about the addition to our team.

The sixth issue of THE DORF - THE MAG will be published on 28 October 2022. This year, the magazine is once again packed with reports and stories from Düsseldorf, portraits of interesting people, first-hand insider tips and it features, of course, a comprehensive address section for culture, restaurants, clubs and shopping. “With the sixth issue of our little entertainment magazine THE DORF – THE MAG, we wanted to add a touch of colour to your life. It was important to us to create a colourful, positive issue that showcases the diverse and creative people of our city. And to present you with an issue that looks to the future with optimism – and that will put you in a good mood, even if a lot of things out there seem grey and negative at the moment”. This is the statement of the editors-in-chief, Tina Husemann and David Holtkamp. And in the spirit of this statement, we hope you enjoy reading and exploring the new issue.

The long-established fashion company Walbusch will be relaunching in autumn 2022 with a completely new image. vista supported the in-house relaunch of the brand and subsequently developed the new logo. In close collaboration with the company’s own design department and through a multi-stage design process, a visual solution was found that embodies the contemporary evolution of the previous logo. Based on the historic Walbusch coat of arms, a modern logo was created that symbolises the beginning of a new era for the successful fashion company.

In September 2022, tick Trading Software AG celebrated its twentieth anniversary. The Düsseldorf-based software company develops customised technology solutions for international financial companies. vista created various digital and print media for the anniversary. Under the editorial direction of Prof. Ulrich Leschak, a comprehensive brand book was produced. With a series of articles, interviews and photo series, the practical hardcover publication combines themes from the company’s history with its vision for the future.

Research and illustration have always gone hand in hand. Since ancient times, not only the scientific world but also the general public have used images to make natural phenomena understandable. From Galileo to Einstein, art and the knowledge it generates have had a profound impact on our modern history. TASCHEN’s new book Science Illustration features more than 300 oversized graphics, from original sketches to technical drawings, from meticulous hand drawings to computer-generated images. vista designed the 436-page work by author Anna Escardó and editor Julius Wiedemann, which will be published as a multilingual edition in July 2022.

The 9k-Galerie für Bild Wort Laut Ding in Willich is devoting an exhibition to the A5 book series on the occasion of the publication of its tenth volume. Since 2009, books on the Kieler Woche design competition, the West Berlin graphic scene and the HfG Ulm have been published. The series is edited and compiled by vista partner Jens Müller – mostly in the context of student workshops and courses. The design of the books has won several awards in competitions such as “The Most Beautiful German Books” or the “European Design Awards”. From 24 June to 21 August 2022, the “10xA5” exhibition will show around 100 selected original works from the first ten volumes, including small prints and large-format posters. For more information, visit www.9k-galerie.de

In June 2022, a special postage stamp issued by Deutsche Post will raise public awareness of organ donation. In an internal design competition held by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, vista came out on top with a graphically reduced design. The jury wrote: “The pictorial implementation of the theme gets to the heart of the matter in an extremely clear and striking way. Two large abstracted hands create a third colour where they overlap, symbolically holding the same heart”. The stamp, with a face value of 85 cents, will be released on 2 June 2022.

When modern dessert art meets top coffee expertise, something extraordinary is created - at Pure Pastry even under the same roof. For several years now, vista has been developing the corporate design and packaging for the Düsseldorf-based family business. The high-quality pastry and coffee products are now not only available in shops, but also online at www.pure-pastry.de. For this purpose, we created a tailor-made online shop which, among other things, allows the individual configuration of praline and macaroon boxes.

The exhibition Graphic.Designers.Collectors. transforms the Berlin design gallery A-Z into a chamber of collections and curiosities. Katharina Sussek and Jens Müller are among the 30 graphic designers invited to present their own collectibles. As part of the exhibition, the pair are showing historic luggage tags from Japan that form part of their “Hotel Graphics” collection. The exhibition runs until mid-February. For further information www.a-z-presents.com.

With the exhibition and publication “Design & Bahn”, the DB Museum in Nuremberg is exploring the design history of the German railways. For the first time, a comprehensive insight into this exciting field of design development is offered – from vehicle design to communication design, from the ideas of the Deutscher Werkbund to visions of the future. vista designed the richly illustrated and exquisitely designed catalogue book, which contains numerous contributions by renowned academics as well as several interviews with contemporary witnesses. A Design History, edited by Oliver Götze, Ursula Bartelsheim and Janina Baur, is published by Prestel.

The global Creative Mornings event series opened its doors on 23 November under the motto “Scopes for Design”. At the Fürstenpalais in Düsseldorf, five design studios and collectives showed their work in different rooms and on four floors, and were available for discussions and questions from visitors. Katharina Sussek and Jens Müller from vista were on hand for the graphic design part of the event, presenting recent editorial design projects.

The fifth issue of THE DORF – THE MAG will be published on 20 October 2021. The multi-award-winning city magazine has been published in a comprehensive print edition for the past five years. Under the motto “as colourful and beautiful as Düsseldorf”, the magazine created by Tina Husemann and David Holtkamp is packed with portraits of extraordinary people, stories and places. vista, responsible for the look of THE DORF since 2014, once again took over the art direction of the magazine for this issue.

vista partner Jens Müller has been appointed Professor of Design at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences from 1 September 2021. He will take over the teaching of corporate design. Jens studied Communication Design in Düsseldorf. Since 2007, he has designed more than a dozen special stamps that have been printed in millions of copies. Together with Karen Weiland-Adams, he won the prestigious Kieler Woche corporate design competition in 2013. Since 2019, he has been running vista as a partner together with Katharina Sussek and Andreas Magino. In addition to his work as a designer, he researches the history of graphic design and is the author of internationally acclaimed reference books.

We completed a very special project for our long-standing client, the DFF - Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum: We produced a book entitled Our DFF - Creating New Spaces, about the intercultural pilot project of the same name. Together with working partners from different parts of Frankfurt, events and workshops were held to find out how the museum could become even more important to the people of the city. The illustrations are by designer Seda Demiriz.

We are delighted to have won the social department store Cash und Raus as a new customer. The non-profit enterprise trains unemployed people and gets them back to work. Its employees collect furniture donations and carry out household clearances. In several stores in the Düsseldorf area, donated furniture, clothing and household goods are returned to the economic cycle at low cost. vista is developing a new image for Cash und Raus in order to make the social and ecological aspects of the project even more visible to the public.

In one of the most popular residential areas in the Düsseldorf region, on the border between Duisburg and the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, the new residential area “Fuchs & Hase” is being built with a total of 86 semi-detached and detached villas. vista developed an individual corporate design concept for this innovative residential area. The graphics pick up on the theme of life between the city and the countryside and present it in a friendly and appealing aesthetic.

We are very pleased to announce that our team has grown even stronger: Romina Iken will be joining us as a designer at vista from 1 March 2021. Romina studied Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf and has been supporting us for several years as a freelancer on numerous branding and editorial projects.

The art scene in Cologne, Düsseldorf and the Rhineland boasts numerous museums, galleries and independent spaces offering a seemingly endless array of exhibitions, openings, talks and events. The new digital art guide ArtJunk is designed to help you keep track of it all. A free weekly newsletter and the web portal at www.artjunk.de bring together events large and small in an interactive and concise online calendar. vista developed not only a new name and an appealing graphic appearance for the start-up founded in 2015, but also the intuitive and clear interface design.

What will we be eating in 2050? Will the future of fashion be all-digital clothing? How much energy will the internet use? And what about tomorrow’s cities? How will we make them livable? In October 2020, Telekom initiated six workshop livestreams under the heading “Nachhaltigkeit #dabei” with experts from the fields of fashion, technology, zero waste, energy, food and smart cities. Together with event agency Zack Bumm, vista developed a modular key visual as well as the entire graphics for Telekom’s event series – from social media posts to the on-air design of the streams. The recordings of the six workshops are available on YouTube and the streaming service Magenta TV.

For many years, vista has been responsible for the appearance of Düsseldorf’s traditional weekly market, Carlsplatz. In October 2020, a new medium for brand communication was developed and introduced in the form of the “Carlsblatt”. Published several times a year, the magazine provides information on the activities of the bustling market and offers inspiration with tips on regional and seasonal products. The current issue is available free of charge in printed form from the traders on the Carlsplatz or as a digital download from the website www.carlsplatz-markt.de.

Hans Hillmann (1925-2014) was one of the most important German graphic designers of the post-war period. His complete oeuvre includes film posters for masterpieces of arthouse cinema, illustrations for twen and the magazine of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and early graphic novels such as “Fliegenpapier”. On the occasion of his 95th birthday, vista has created an online archive at www.hanshillmann.de that makes all of his work accessible. Around 800 objects from seven decades can be explored thematically, by chance, by keyword or via a search. Together with Marlies Rosa-Hillmann, the designer’s widow, existing digital copies were supplemented with new scans of objects from the estate. This is the first time that the entire life’s work of an important graphic designer has been made digitally accessible in such a comprehensive way. At the same time, the book “Moving Pictures”, produced by vista, will be published, which also presents all of Hans Hillmann’s film posters for the first time in a single illustrated book. Using the posters as examples, the book documents the process of idea generation as well as the various design approaches in illustration, photography and typography.

Katharina Kasper was born in 1820 as the child of poor farmers in the small village of Dernbach near Montabaur. She felt God’s calling at an early age and was convinced that she was doing God’s will by helping those in need. Although Katharina Kasper herself was not able to attend school regularly, she recognised the importance of education, especially for girls. When Katharina Kasper died in Dernbach in 1898, she left behind a congregation of more than 1700 members active in five countries. Following her beatification by Pope Paul VI on 16 April 1978, Katharina Kasper was canonised by Pope Francis on 14 October 2018. Now, Deutsche Post is paying tribute to the woman from the Westerwald with a special stamp designed by vista. The stamp, with a face value of 155 cents, will be released on 04 June 2020.

From building land to revitalisation, from design to construction to sale. The Blankbau Group always considers everything from start to finish. For many years, vista has been supporting the Duisburg-based property developer in communication and design matters. In order to give the thriving company a contemporary visual identity, a complete redesign of the brand was carried out at the beginning of 2020. The high aesthetic standards that unite the numerous construction projects of the Blankbau Group were translated into a reduced visual identity. The newly developed website, which focuses on past and present buildings, combines the maxims of the revised identity: objective clarity and timeless modernity.

“Creating connections” is the headline of the new annual report of tick-TS AG. Together with Prof. h.c. Ulrich Leschak, vista once again developed the concept for the publication. This year, the data and figures from the 2018/19 financial year are presented with insights from the daily work of the employees. The focus is on devices such as the senior developer’s intensively used keyboard, on which around 40,000 lines of code are created each year. Düsseldorf-based tick-TS AG is an internationally sought-after technology service provider for companies in the financial sector – including comdirect, HSBC and BX Swiss.

Online shopping and changing consumer behaviour are challenging the very concept of the supermarket, which has been around since the 1930s. The new book “Hybrid Food Retail” by Alina Cymera and Prof. Bernhard Franken is dedicated to the present and future of food retail. The content was developed and researched in a multi-year research project at the Design Department of the PBSA Peter Behrens School Of Arts. vista designed the 400-page book, which was published by Frame Books, Amsterdam. “Hybrid Food Retail” follows the successful title “Holistic Retail Design”, also designed by vista and published in 2015, which reflected on the impact of the digital age on bricks-and-mortar retail.

The independent publishing house Optik Books in Düsseldorf publishes books on the history of graphic design and visual identity. For the publication of the book “West-Berlin Grafik-Design”, vista created a new web design that visually presents the books of the small publishing house. The website is also a shop and serves as a direct sales channel for the publisher. The books can be purchased online with just a few clicks and without time-consuming registration.

J’N’C is the trade magazine for jeans & casual wear as well as contemporary fashion and is aimed equally at industry and trade, decision-makers and international industry experts. Vista developed a completely revised online presence for J’N’C that brings the outstanding visual quality of the print magazine to desktops, tablets and smartphones without compromising on quality. In addition to industry news updated several times a day, the magazine’s lavish fashion shoots are an integral part of the new site. Find out more at www.jnc-net.de

On 17 and 18 August, the Federal Ministry of Finance hosted an open day at the Detlev Rohwedder Haus in Berlin. On this occasion, State Secretary Wolfgang Schmidt presented the new special-issue stamp “100 Years of the Weimar Constitution”. The stamp honours the anniversary of the first German democracy and commemorates the commitment to the republic and the sovereignty of the people. vista had previously won the internal competition to design the stamp. The jury was impressed by the concept of using only the first two sentences of the constitution in the national colours of black, red and gold.

Over the past 30 years, WHU students and alumni have founded more than 500 startups, including 5 unicorns. Entrepreneurship is still on the rise and students are more interested than ever in entrepreneurial activities, whether it is starting their own business or working within a company by developing technologies, new products and services. The WHU Entrepreneurship Centre was established to support this tradition and motivation of students. It brings together corporate partners, start-ups, investors, alumni and students at WHU’s three campuses in Vallendar, Düsseldorf and Berlin. With a focus on social media applicability, a distinctive brand was developed to complement the existing WHU image.

For the past ten years, Steven Heller and Julius Wiedemann have been following the latest developments in illustration around the world. Anyone who thought that digital design would spell the end of an entire professional discipline has been proven wrong. TASCHEN’s new book, The Illustrator, celebrates the sheer quality, variety, intensity, comedy, vitality and uniqueness of the work on display. From established artists like Brad Holland to rising stars like Robin Eisenberg, the “100 Best” represented here are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but offer a compelling snapshot of the world’s hottest styles, techniques, and colour schemes. Vista designed the book The Illustrator and produced the 664-page, trilingual work of art.

London, Miami, Rotterdam, Chicago: the works of Berlin-based artist Caroline Kryzecki are in demand all over the world. With her abstract pen drawings, she has become a fixture on the international art scene and is represented by galleries in Berlin and New York. For her new website, the vista team took her favourite medium, line drawing, and used it as a fundamental part of the design. Without distracting from her work, the site provides access to a wide range of content related to the artist’s oeuvre. More at www.kryzecki.de

Under the motto “Making a mark”, the new annual report of tick-TS AG focuses on the logos of various clients and plays with the seamless transition from commercial brands to abstract art. Together with creative director Prof. h.c. Ulrich Leschak, vista developed the unconventional concept for the publication, which of course also contains the usual reports, balance sheets and forecasts. Düsseldorf-based tick-TS AG is an internationally sought-after technology service provider for companies in the financial sector – including comdirect, HSBC and BX Swiss.

For the fourth year running, vista is responsible for the visual appearance of Startup Week Düsseldorf, which will take place from 5 to 12 April 2019. More than 130 different events, lectures and workshops are aimed at start-up entrepreneurs. vista is once again taking part in this year’s Startup Week programme with the theme “Brand your business”. We invite you to talk to us personally and answer all your questions about branding, brand positioning, strategy and interface design. All information about registration at www.startupwoche-dus.de/sessions/brand-your-business/

As part of the “100 Best Posters” exhibition tour, Jens Müller of vista was a guest at the Haute école d’art et de design in Geneva at the end of January. He talked about his work on the competition jury, discussed with colleagues from Switzerland and abroad the continuing importance of the poster in the digital age, and presented some of vista’s projects. The focus of his short talk was on book projects on design history topics. Among other things, he gave a preview of the next volume in the A5 book series, which will focus on the design scene in West Berlin at the time of the Berlin Wall.

Under the motto “NEW YEAR, NEW US”, the 75th issue of J’N’C magazine explores the changing textile and fashion industry. Vista, together with the new editor-in-chief Cheryll Mühlen, carried out a smooth redesign and brought the magazine into a new, more compact format. We are delighted to have the opportunity to publish the EPP Professional Publishing Group’s trade magazine four times a year.

For 25 years, Africa Alive has been presenting the latest in African film and culture, exciting thematic series and screenings of the work of important filmmakers. Founded in 1994, the festival provides a broad forum for African artists from the worlds of film, literature, visual arts and music in Frankfurt am Main. This popular event has made a significant contribution to presenting a truer and more diverse image of Africa. For the 25th edition, which will take place from 30 January to 16 February 2019, vista has developed a new look for the festival. More to come soon.

At the December edition of Creative Mornings Düsseldorf, Jens Müller from vista spoke about his book “Design Pioneers. The Invention of Graphic Modernism”. In his lecture, which took place at the WHU campus, he introduced personalities such as Peter Behrens, Lucian Bernhard or John Heartfield with their ground breaking innovations. Around 100 people took up the invitation and were keen to get an insight into the early days of German graphic design. A recording of the lecture can be seen via this link.

The merger of our two offices began three years ago when we moved into our shared studio on Worringer Strasse. We advise our clients at every opportunity to communicate clearly and unambiguously. Now it’s time to take that advice to heart ourselves. That is why optik and zweizueins will merge on 1 January 2019 and be given a new name: vista.

The word vista means view, sight or seeing in various languages. Designing the visible aspects of an economic or cultural project is still the main focus of our work. But with the new name we also want to raise our profile. Over the past ten years, we have done much more than design printed materials and develop corporate identities. We have created content, planned digital strategies and provided communications advice to start-ups. The four words “digital”, “brand”, “content” and “design” accompany our new brand and reflect not only our personal development over the years, but also the changing demands on communication design in general. The fact that we have always thought and acted independently of the media – always with the aim of finding the best solution – stands us in good stead in the current situation.

With a new name comes a new logo. But just one? Somehow that was not challenging enough for us. And since we are our own client, why not 400? Nobody had ever done that before. All the more reason. It’s said. And done.