Rosmarie Tissi
Rosmarie Tissi is a pivotal figure in graphic design, renowned for her innovative contributions to the field. Her career gained early recognition in 1957 when her work appeared in the inaugural issue of Neue Grafik magazine. In 1958, she began collaborating with Siegfried Odermatt, and in 1968, they co-founded a shared studio in Zurich. Although their partnership was characterized by mutual critique and exchange, joint projects between the two were rare.
Tissi belonged to a generation of designers who reimagined the Swiss Style, challenging its rigidity by introducing a playful, modern twist. While retaining the style’s principles of clarity and reduction, she infused her designs with bold color contrasts, dynamic grids, geometric forms, and expressive typography. This distinctive blend made her work both timeless and groundbreaking, cementing her as one of the most influential graphic designers of the 20th century.
Her creations have been exhibited extensively, from New York to Tokyo, as well as throughout Switzerland. Notable showcases include a 2009 retrospective at the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur celebrating Odermatt & Tissi. Her posters are part of esteemed collections such as the Neue Sammlung in Munich, the Plakatmuseum in Essen, MoMA in New York, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, and the Library of Congress in Washington.
In 1974, Tissi made history as one of the first women to join the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). Over the years, she has received numerous accolades, including first prize and a gold medal at the 11th International Poster Biennial in Warsaw (1986), second prize for her design of Swiss banknotes (1989), and the Swiss Grand Award for Design (2018). The latter honored her significant influence on Swiss graphic design and her pioneering role in the field.
Throughout her career, Tissi has not only produced iconic designs but also shared her philosophy and expertise through workshops and lectures at renowned institutions such as the Rhode Island School of Design and Yale University. Her body of work remains a cornerstone of graphic design history, inspiring and shaping the field for generations to come.
Tissi belonged to a generation of designers who reimagined the Swiss Style, challenging its rigidity by introducing a playful, modern twist. While retaining the style’s principles of clarity and reduction, she infused her designs with bold color contrasts, dynamic grids, geometric forms, and expressive typography. This distinctive blend made her work both timeless and groundbreaking, cementing her as one of the most influential graphic designers of the 20th century.
Her creations have been exhibited extensively, from New York to Tokyo, as well as throughout Switzerland. Notable showcases include a 2009 retrospective at the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur celebrating Odermatt & Tissi. Her posters are part of esteemed collections such as the Neue Sammlung in Munich, the Plakatmuseum in Essen, MoMA in New York, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, and the Library of Congress in Washington.
In 1974, Tissi made history as one of the first women to join the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). Over the years, she has received numerous accolades, including first prize and a gold medal at the 11th International Poster Biennial in Warsaw (1986), second prize for her design of Swiss banknotes (1989), and the Swiss Grand Award for Design (2018). The latter honored her significant influence on Swiss graphic design and her pioneering role in the field.
Throughout her career, Tissi has not only produced iconic designs but also shared her philosophy and expertise through workshops and lectures at renowned institutions such as the Rhode Island School of Design and Yale University. Her body of work remains a cornerstone of graphic design history, inspiring and shaping the field for generations to come.
Former judges
Duane Michals
Edward Fella
Fritz Gottschalk
Gerald Scarfe
Graciela Iturbide
Henry Steiner
Maciej Hibner
Nobuyoshi Araki
Seymour Chwast
Tom Geismar
William Klein
Edward Fella
Fritz Gottschalk
Gerald Scarfe
Graciela Iturbide
Henry Steiner
Maciej Hibner
Nobuyoshi Araki
Seymour Chwast
Tom Geismar
William Klein