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walter paepcke

Home Tag walter paepcke
a serendipitous moment via moholy-nagy chicago design archive and designer steve liska .

a serendipitous moment via moholy-nagy chicago design archive and designer steve liska .

Oct 17, 2017

above> sculpture class in school of design / 610 fairbanks chicago / c 1940

serendipity: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for…
this article intends to provoke an ongoing conversation re chicago’s design history. let’s begin with a philosophy of “one must look back to move forward” and with elements necessary to this narrative — in chronological order… bauhaus movement, lászló moholy-nagy, new bauhaus in chicago, the chicago design archive, and chicago designer steve liska. an aside, this year, iit institute of design is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its founding as the new bauhaus.

[ bauhaus movement /// weimar/dessau germany ] the historical bauhaus is the most influential educational establishment in the fields of architecture, art and design. founded 1919 in weimar germany by architect walter gropius as a school that combined crafts and the fine arts, it was famous for an approach to design which it publicized and taught. the school closed in 1933 when the nazis came to power in germany.

the bauhaus can still be felt today, essentially characterizing the image of german design abroad. architects, designers and artists associated with the bauhaus include: alvar aalto, josef albers, herbert bayer, charles and ray eames, eileen gray, johannes itten, walter jacobsen, wassily kandinsky, paul klee, le corbusier, laszlo moholy-nagy, george nelson, isamu noguchi, eero saarinen, frank lloyd wright and mies van der rohe.

above> in 1907 belgian architect henry van de velde founded the school of arts and crafts in weimar germany / 1919 he invites walter gropius to move in who starts the state bauhaus

[ lászló moholy-nagy, a new bauhaus school /// chicago usa ] also known as moholy – a hungarian experimental artist, modernist, and former faculty at the parent bauhaus in dessau comes to chicago. in 1937, at the invitation of walter paepcke, the chairman of the container corporation of america, moholy-nagy, moved to chicago to become the director of the new bauhaus. the philosophy of the school was basically unchanged from that of the original.

unfortunately, the school lost its financial backing and it closed in 1938. paepcke continued his own support and in 1939, moholy-nagy opened the school of design. in 1944, the school became the institute of design. earlier in 1939, the institute of design became a part of illinois institute of technology and became the first institution in the united states to offer a phd in design.

below> moholy-nagy on the balcony of the prellerhaus in dessau / 1927 / courtesy of the metropolitan museum of art

[ the chicago design archive and chicago designer steve liska ] liska shares his thoughts with DesignApplause upon discovering his new office was once the home of moholy’s school…

[designapplause] for the past 30 years you have managed to create wonderful office spaces for yourself. your current space may be your best. how did you arrive at this location?

[steve liska] our lease was up, was grumbling about it to a client that just developed the 600 north fairbanks helmut jahn building. he said he had a tenant (the pritzker military library) moving out of his building and i should take a look. it was slightly scary.

[DA] what is your vision of your office spaces? what is your office supposed to do?

[SL] as brand designers- communication is critical. so have always appreciated an open, flexible, collaborative office. our office supports us and gives us a neutral environment to share ideas. and has good coffee.

[DA] what was involved / how did you arrive at the finished presentation of your space?

[SL] the building is almost 100 years old, very solid and concrete loft-like. my friends at gary lee partners helped us plan for all the previous tenant demo- we removed walls, office and lots of strange old equipment. then they helped configure the space, basically made it happen.

[DA] tell us about some back stories to this building.

[SL] it was built almost a 100 years ago as a bakery (the horn and hardart automat company). it has been a us post office, housed hugh hefner’s first playboy office, the chez paree nightclub in the 50s, home to joe sedelmaier, shel silverstein, dingbat’s disco (mr. t!) and of course the school of design. lots of history, stories and a few cool ghosts.

[DA] what did you know and what did you learn about moholy?

[SL] it took a while to learn about the school and moholy-nagy from our new landlord, but once we did- we were fanatics. he actually taught in what is now our space. we have a great old photo of a sculpture class in our office from the late 40s. i have always been a fan of everyone from the bauhaus, but the more i researched moholy-nagy – the more obsessed i became. such a renaissance man.

[DA] tell us about the facade presentation.

[SL] many years ago the building’s owners hired an artist to decorate the front of the building with a huge mural of moses. not sure why moses, but it was quirky and interesting. the building was undergoing surface repair- so moses was going to be painted over. we talked to our landlord about replacing it with something related to moholy-nagy and the school of design. we eventually found a little 2 1/4 inch square photo at moma that we thought was a good evolution from moses. our landlord agreed- they ended up hiring the same artist to paint the mural based on that photo. a year later- the traveling moholy-nagy show was announced.

the best part is watching all the tourists who take photos from across the street. they don’t exactly know what the mural is all about- and that is good.

[DA] is this your final location in a perfect world?

[SL] no that would be costa rica or paris. but for now- this is pretty good.

[DA] as long as we have you, what kind of things are you working on?

[SL] a lot of real estate work, some educational institution branding, and ongoing work for a lot of existing clients. (liska.com)

[DA] i’ve been to your offices many times and we have run into each other pitching work. i don’t recall you wearing anything but a white shirt and tie. and now that you’ve aged a bit you remind me of the design community in the late 60s early 70s. very serious looking. thoughts?

[SL] i’m glad you think i am serious looking. like most things in fashion- it comes back over and over again. i count on that. i do own 2 blue shirts. seriously.

[DA] want to say something we haven’t talked about?

[SL] no, done for now. have to go pick out tomorrow’s tie.

above> liska’s office on 610 north fairbanks today / a mural of moholy over the entrance

the chicago design archive (2002-present), is a permanent and exclusive online record of chicago-related experiential, graphic and product design. the mission statement is simple – to share the best of chicago design. originally hosting only graphic design, experiential and product design work is now being collected. the cda founding board recently added a graphic design advisory and a curatorial board. it goes without saying that this dedicated team feels the burden of preserving and growing the cda, afterall, it’s only chicago’s design heritage. we asked advisor, steve liska, if we could meet at his office. entering his office building we all notice the plaque below. we didn’t know…

above> steve liska

{ bauhaus dessau ] [ bauhaus movement ] [ moholy-nagy chicago design archive ] [the charnel-house / moholy-nagy ] [ liska + associates ]

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below> video trailer of ‘moholy-nagy: future present’ produced by and exhibited in chicago in 2016. other usa venues included the guggenheim, and most recently lacma

Robert vogele awarded the 2011 aiga medal.

Robert vogele awarded the 2011 aiga medal.

Jun 12, 2012

aiga medal | click > enlarge

On April 19, 2012, Robert Vogele was awarded the 2011 AIGA Medal for his sustained contribution to design excellence and the development of the profession. The AIGA Medal is one of the highest honors of the design profession, given to practitioners, educators, and role models since 1920. Bob has joined an elite and distinguished list of professionals who inspire us with their creativity, intelligence, perception and skill.

Over my 40-year relationship with Bob, I’ve found he’s a hard guy to put a label on. Many, including myself, would say he is both a catalyst and a glue. He chooses the kindling, creates a spark and keeps the heat on until the ember of an idea burst’s into a passionate flame. I don’t think he learned how to do this, it’s one of those good life curses that keeps the source as well as the beneficiaries alive.

His obsessions evolve around his concept of Design “big D” and art. You see his eye for art in his homes, his office, his gifts to family and friends, and the many museums he and his wife Ruth have donated to, and it’s only the tip of a collector’s iceberg. He loves architecture though he is a demanding client when it comes to his homes. His last two homes were designed ( by Larry Booth in Snowmass Village, CO and by Robert Whitton in Phoenix, AZ ) to show their art collection. His bucket list could include the design of a good white cube storage facility.

Bob’s professional skills and talents derive from a minor in business and a degree in design and fine art, plus a masters in communication. In his early career days, his ability and good fortune to expose himself to accomplished influencers (Charles Coiner, Ralph Eckerstrom, Herb Pinske, Bob Middleton, Dick Lathum, Jay Doblin, Robert Hood, Walter & Elizabeth Paepcke, Herbert Bayer among others) and in turn learn from the talented of his generation. Add to that a leader’s need for some sense of control and an entrepreneurial gene. He is world-class at both one-to-one and as a manager of many.

co-art director university of illinois yearbook 1949-50

With no clear specific goal in mind at the time, Bob’s particular journey formally started in 1949, while a senior at the University of Illinois in C/U where he worked full-time for the University Press art department headed by a professor of Industrial Design (Ralph E.) and catches a design virus he attributes to the Chicago big D epidemic at this time.

An invitation from Ralph and straight out of college Bob packed his new two-door Chevy (a graduation gift) and they went to the first International Aspen Design Conference. A ground-breaking event, the theme, Design as a Function of Management, forever transformed the sensibilities that he and his associates infused into their careers. Many of the 200 attendees attacked the business participants (including CBS, Herman Miller, Olivetti, Neiman Marcus) for misunderstanding design. The conference served as incubator for a new period in American design in which business began to ‘partner’ with designers as professionals to produce customized environments instead of thinking about design as formulaic add-ons. The concept inspired Bob for 60 years.

massimo vignelli, bob, jay doblin | bob chairs icograda conference chicago 1974

In 1958 he started his own business. Just 15 years after the Aspen virus hit him, Bob chose the American Dental Building to locate his growing business. In doing so, he underscored his POV that to work with business and sell design, the designer’s office needed to look business-like while still providing space for creative work. His minimalist approach centered on white surroundings punctuated with modern furniture and artwork, including some of his own.

In 1970, now in One IBM Plaza, the business capability statement was changed from design to strategic marketing communication. Not done, Bob once again challenged himself and those who worked for him, to think big and constantly expand the application and capacity of good design ideas. In 1982 he founds what becomes VSA Partners, which today has offices in Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis with a staff that hovers over 200.

american dental building office

one ibm plaza office

Bob Vogele wishes to be remembered as a designer, but not by a traditional definition. Rather, to be known for helping define design as a creative planning function for business, and as a creative thinker and mentor. He has a quirky notion to send out a Q&A to find out what people think of him. He seeks and responds to feedback for him to grow and be able to maximize his potential.

Here’s some feedback Bob. Your belief in work, in finding the solution in the doing, in weaving together working and living, has and continues to influence and inspire those you have met and with those with whom you have shared.

big rv

2011 AIGA Medalists congratulations to: Ralph Caplan, Elaine Lustig Cohen, Armin Hofmann, Robert Vogele.

[ emily potts ] [ adam kalish ] [ chicago design archive ]


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