Wednesday 19 November 2008, 7pm
Helvetic Centre and the Swiss Federal Office of Culture cordially invite you to the opening of the exhibition of "The most Beautiful Swiss Books" at Cafe Oto. Hans Muster, director of Helvetic Centre, will deliver a brief keynote and
guests from Switzerland will introduce the competition and the catalogue.
The competition "The most Beautiful Swiss Books" was launched as far back as 1943, when a jury of five experts selected the 25 most beautiful or best executed books. Among the members of the jury was Jan Tschichold, who also initiated the competition. It has now long been established as an annual event of high esteem and international renown, and is organised by the Swiss Federal Office of Culture.
In 2008, a jury selected 27 "Most Beautiful Swiss Books" of the year 2007. The selection was based on 408 submitted books, a number which testifies to the continued interest in the competition.
The jury consists of five experts from different fields of the printing and publishing business, as well as professionals in graphic design and typography: Cornel Windlin, Lionel Bovier and Käti Robert-Durrer are based in Zurich, Paul Neale in London and Linda van Deursen in Amsterdam.
According to the brief, the jury selects the books on the basis of their quality in terms of design, typography and overall conception. Innovation and originality are important factors, while the use of the material and printing techniques is also considered.
This year's jury has made a very bold selection. Although the 27 books on display may all belong to the category of art books, architecture books and the like, they are all distinguished by their exceptional design and production standards.
The catalogue that is published along with the competition was conceived and designed by Laurenz Brunner in close collaboration with Tan Wälchli. The Swiss Federal Office of Culture commissions designers for a period of three years with the design and concept for the catalogue, thereby periodically focusing on different aspects of book design. This year's catalogue is concerned with the discourses around book design and raises the question of how to write about book design. Laurenz Brunner and Tan Wälchli present a trilogy over three years: While this years' catalogue addresses the past and the history of book design, the next two catalogues will be devoted to the present and the future of book design.
The exhibition has also been shown at the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich, and is currently showing at the mudac in Lausanne and at Centre Culturel Suisse in Paris.
