From Calligraphy to Constructivism

Who was Jan Tschichold, and why does his work continue to shape the way we see and structure text? How did a young calligrapher from Leipzig become the defining voice of modern typography—only to later renounce its rigidity? In this first part of Tschichold’s story, we explore the intellectual, political, and aesthetic forces that formed him—tracing his early influences, radical publications, and the ideals that would spark both admiration and controversy for decades to come.

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Brief Overview

Jan Tschichold (1902–1974) was a German designer, writer, and teacher whose landmark book Die neue Typographie (1928) helped define the design principles of the modernist era. A fierce advocate for clarity, asymmetry, and typographic discipline, he also designed several typefaces—including Sabon, Transit, and Zeus—and shaped the typographic standards for Penguin Books.