Books Graphic Design Letterpress Member Publication

K.H. Drescher—Berlin Typo Posters, Texts, and Interviews

posted by Robyn Pitts September 17, 2019

While researching at university (Burg Giebichenstein) for his masters degree, designer Markus Lange came across the fantastic typographic poster artwork of graphic artist Karl-Heinz Drescher who had studied at the same school from 1955-1960. Over a year long research project Markus got in touch with Drescher’s family and conducted various interviews in order to learn more about this talented designer, resulting in a 272 page book published in collaboration with Slanted Publishers. For the first time, this book unites and summarises Drescher’s typographic posters in one comprehensive volume. The publication serves not only as a review of the extraordinary life of a theatre graphic designer, but also as inspiration for the here and now.

Whilst researching Markus discovered that Drescher joined the Berliner Ensemble in 1962: the theatre founded by Berthold Brecht for which he worked as a graphic designer for almost 40 years under the direction of Brecht’s wife Helene Weigel. In addition to his work at this house, Drescher also worked for other organisations, museums, galleries, and theatres. His catalogue of works comprises over 400 posters with approximately one third printed by letterpress.

The effort with which Drescher printed his posters in letterpress was enormous. Although this technique had already gone out of fashion at the time and was replaced by new printing processes, he continued to work with passion and devotion on his posters with the technique he loved.

The book contains texts and interviews by various authors such as Dr. Friedrich Diekmann, Dr. Sylke Wunderlich, Helmut Brade, Niklaus Troxler, Gerd Fleischmann, Jamie Murphy, Erik Spiekermann, Ferdinand Ulrich, Götz Gramlich, Peter Kammerer, Vera Tenschert, Cesarina and Alessandro Drescher.