Thursday 23 October 2014
L’hommage: Paula Scher > Rosmarie Tissi
We can’t wait until November 12, when Swiss graphic designer Rosmarie Tissi will join us for a design talk at ArkDes in Stockholm. From the Hall of Femmes circle, we asked Paula Scher to tell us more about her admiration for her colleague and friend.
When did you discover Rosmarie Tissi’s design? What impression did it make on you?
I saw Rosmarie’s work in various publications and annuals in the early and mid-80’s, probably in the magazine Graphis. I remember seeing an article on Odermatt & Tissi, and was surprised to find out that Tissi was a woman. I loved it and thought it was very contemporary. I always assumed that everything was designed by men, because in the publications and annuals of that time, it usually was.
Tell us about your first meeting with Rosmarie?
It must have been in Mexico, probably either on a jury of a show, or at a group poster show. She actually liked to travel without Siggi (Odermatt), her by then long time partner. She used to go on extensive vacations by herself, after working all year with him. She didn’t mind traveling alone – I did, but got over it. I remember admiring her independence.
We also were together for a large group poster in exhibit in Teheran in the 90’s, both very upset about having to wear the stupid scarf over our heads every day. It was surprising how much that affected us. I cried the first morning that I had to put it on, and Rosemarie had the same reaction. Some of it was vanity and some of it was rage.
What has your friendship with Rosmarie meant to you as a designer?
Rosmarie was my first female, European design friend. I sometimes saw her at AGI (Alliance Graphic Internationale) where there were very few women members – more so now, but still, not enough. I was inspired by her work because of its modernity, its beauty and precision, but was also inspired by her as a person.
I admired her confidence and independence. She was opinionated about work, and savvy about the design community. I learned that Swiss poster designers are very competitive and not very nice about it, but I remember that she helped younger designers receive recognition.
She also had a clear handle on old boys clubs. When she traveled to conferences and exhibitions, she was often the sole woman among a powerful group of male designers, who considered themselves peers and would even exclude her from the group. She never let it undermine her. She had a strong belief in her own talent and accomplishments, and viewed the work of some of the men for what it was.
What part of Tissi’s work do you find most relevant today?
I suspect Rosmarie is about to have a whole new wave of popularity. Her work still looks incredibly fresh and modern. The color, scale, proportion, use of imagery is impeccable. I also like her type design, she designed three faces that are pretty cool. Her posters are dynamic, powerful and gorgeous. She’s classic.
Do you have anything to say to those who are not familiar with her work?
Google her.
Apart from checking out Rosmarie Tissi on the Internet – meet her at the Kolla! talk at ArkDes on November 12, during Kolla! Design Awards. Tickets available here.
Read more about Paula Scher, a fellow classic, in the Hall of Femmes book on her work. Stay tuned for more praise and inspiration, from one creative to another, under the tagline L’Hommage.
NEWSLETTER
ARCHIVE
CATEGORIES
- Ruth Ansel (94)
- Fina saker (70)
- Killar (64)
- Paula Scher (62)
- Lillian Bassman (56)
- Arbete (56)
- Ladies (55)
- Fotografi (51)
- Carin Goldberg (47)
- Nöjen (42)
- Press (37)
- Budskap (29)
- Romantik (28)
- Janet Froelich (25)
- Mary Shanahan (24)
- Typografi (21)
- Gentlemen (21)
- Richard Avedon (20)
- Döden (19)
- Bea Feitler (17)
- Tomoko Miho (17)
- Hall of Femmes intervjuar (16)
- Lella Vignelli (16)
- Böcker (15)
- Dagens lunchkille (15)
- Massimo Vignelli (14)
- Mode (13)
- Stefania Malmsten (13)
- Types and Faces (13)
- Harper's Bazaar (12)
- Teknik (12)
- Vince Aletti (12)
- Pengar (11)
- Maira Kalman (11)
- Annie Leibovitz (10)
- Ika Johannesson (10)
- Maina Arvas (9)
- Irma Boom (9)
- Ålderdom (8)
- Magazines (8)
- Yolanda Cuomo (8)
- Vanity Fair (8)
- L'Hommage (8)
- Politik (7)
- Lina Thomsgård (7)
- Autografer (7)
- Framtiden (6)
- Radio (6)
- Cipe Pineles (6)
- Jan Gradvall (6)
- Nina Ulmaja (5)
- Panelen (5)
- Books (5)
- Preface (5)
- Humor (4)
- Utställningar (4)
- Brev (4)
- Carolina Laudon (4)
- Diana Vreeland (4)
- Anna Thurfjell (4)
- Moa Li Lemhagen Schalin (4)
- Diane Arbus (4)
- Redaktörer (4)
- Ellen Lupton (4)
- Lisa Rydell (4)
- Anders Wester (4)
- Guest blogger (4)
- Penny Martin (3)
- Emi Gunér (3)
- Susan Kare (3)
- Henrietta Condak (3)
- Gloria Steinem (3)
- Katerina Denzinger (3)
- Neon (3)
- Marvin Israel (3)
- Muriel Cooper (3)
- Kerstin Anckers (2)
- Christina Knight (2)
- Alice Rawsthorn (2)
- Nina Beckmann (2)
- Sport (2)
- The New York Times Magazine (2)
- Nicole Kärnell (2)
- Vetenskap (2)
- Johanna Lewengard (2)
- Anna Qvennerstedt (2)
- Kristin Lundell (2)
- Marina Willer (2)
- Ondska (2)
- April Greiman (2)
- Mats Gustafson (2)
- Alexander McQueen (2)
- Georgie Stout (2)
- Irving Penn (2)
- Creative Review (2)
- David Hägglund (2)
- Anja Cronberg (2)
- Hypokondri (2)
- Jennifer Daniel (2)
- Sarah Clyne Sundberg (2)
- Preface (2)
- Typography (2)
- Calligraphy (2)
- TV (1)
- Världen (1)
- Steven Meisel (1)
- Tavi Gevinson (1)
- Mesdames (1)
- Jessica Hische (1)
- Eric Breitbart (1)
- Tove Langseth (1)
- Idrott (1)
- Front (1)
- Reklam (1)
- Rättviseförmedlingen (1)
- Kathy Ryan (1)
- Jenny Holzer (1)
- Anna Romson (1)
- Lars Laurentii (1)
- Astrid Stavro (1)
- Mia Frostner (1)
- Frith Kerr (1)
- Los Angeles (1)
- Madeleine Albright (1)
- Rebecca Allen (1)
- Men With Shelves (1)
- Tina Brown (1)
- Paola Antonelli (1)
- Greta Grossman (1)
- Bomben (1)
- Polly Allen Mellen (1)
- Marian Bantjes (1)
- Milton Glaser (1)
- Michael Bierut (1)
- Lorraine Wild (1)
- Lartigue (1)
- Julia Meer (1)
- Cindy Gallop (1)
- Seminars (1)
- Nathalie Du Pasquier (1)
- Rosemarie Tissi (1)
TAGS
- 2013 (1)
- Alexey Brodovitch (1)
- Apartamento magazine (1)
- Bea Feitler (1)
- Bea Uusma (1)
- Bengt Hanser (2)
- Cindy Sherman (1)
- Content marketing (1)
- Den dag jag blir fri (1)
- Denise Scott brown (1)
- Designers & Books (1)
- Designers and Books (1)
- Diana Vreeland (1)
- Filt (1)
- Hall of Femmes (3)
- Hall of Femmes Talks (2)
- Harper's Bazaar (2)
- Ida Wessel (1)
- Irma Boom (3)
- Janet Froelich (1)
- Julia Hoffman (1)
- Junior Bazaar (1)
- Lawen Mohtadi (1)
- Lella Vignelli (1)
- Lotta Kühlhorn (2)
- Maira Kalman (1)
- Memphis Group (1)
- Nathalie Du Pasquier (1)
- New York (3)
- Olafur Eliasson (1)
- Omar Sosa (1)
- Palmepriset (1)
- Peggy Sarno (2)
- Please Copy Me (1)
- Podcasts (1)
- Rättviseförmedlingen (1)
- Real Simple (1)
- Rosa Taikon (1)
- Sara Teleman (1)
- Seminar (1)
- Steven Heller (1)
- T Style (1)
- The New York Times (1)
- The New York Times Magazine (1)
- The Sarnos (1)
- The Sweptaways (1)
- Tomoko Miho (1)
- Vanity Fair (1)
- Vanja Hermele (1)
- Vince Aletti (1)
- Women in Design (2)
Wanna show some love?
Hopefully you find pleasure in all the hard days, nights, weekends, vacations and countless hours we’ve spent researching, editing, typing, writing, designing and building all of this. Please don’t hesitate to express that feeling by donating any amount you find suitable to help us keep up the work. It means the world to us!