Wim Crouwel, typographer, graphic designer, type designer, teacher and curator is one of the Netherlands’ greatest design icons. Born in 1928 in Groeningen, Wim studied at the Academy of Arts & Crafts, Groningen, Netherlands from 1946 to 1949, continuing his studies at the Amsterdam Art School 1VKNO, where he was later to teach.

Over his extensive career he has taught at numerous other academies and institutions including, The Royal Art Academys’ Hertogenbosch, Delft University and the Royal College of Art, London, culminating in holding the Private Chair at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, in art and cultural sciences.

His work on the Benelux pavilion at the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair won him the Ordre Leopold II. Later, this experience would help Crouwel earn the opportunity to work on the 1970 Osaka World’s Fair Dutch pavilion.

Since 1980, he has been involved with the Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, eventually instated as the director. In 1963 he co-founded the ‘swiss inspired’ design studio, Total Design together with Friso Kramer, Paul Schwartz and Benno Wissing and was a figure who loomed large over Dutch design discourse in the 1970’s. Apart from his numerous awards for his commitment and excellence in graphic design and typography, Wim has exhibited works at numerous shows including exhibitions at the Stedelljk Museum, Amsterdam; Museum Wiesbaden; and the Design Centre, Stuttgart. Wim’s work has been published in many books and journals, including the recent monograph, [Wim Crouwel Alphabets][], published by BIS in 2003. He is especially admired for his systematic approach and his creative handling of the shape of letters.

Several of his typefaces have been released in digital form: the New Alphabet (1967) in three weights, the Fodor (1969) and Stedelljk ‘museum’ alphabets, and recently, the entire Gridnik family of letters.

[Wim Crouwel Alphabets]: http://www.gingkopress.com/03-gra/vivid.html

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