Heiri Steiner, Switzerland

AGI member since 1952

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After studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule under Ernst Keller and in Berlin with O.H.W. Hadank in 1929, Heinrich ‘Heiri’ Steiner started his own studio in Zürich. From 1934–39 he worked together with Ernst Heininger. He was an illustrator, typographer and exhibition designer. Heiri worked on the Swiss Pavillion at the 1937 Poster Exhibition and the Swiss National Exhibition in Zürich. In 1947 he moved to Paris where he was appointed art director for UNESCO publications. He also worked for various publishers on typography and cover illustrations. According to Henrion he could illustrate the unillustratable, including concepts such as fear, anxiety and the neurotic state of mind – a unique achievement. In 1959 he returned to Zürich, where he designed scientific exhibitions for Zürich University and Zoological Museum. He was a man with ideals and ethics, which one can see in his posters, postage stamps and books. He designed Exempla Grafica in 1967.

Design work by Heiri Steiner


    Heiri Steiner, Switzerland (1952)

    After studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule under Ernst Keller and in Berlin with O.H.W. Hadank in 1929, Heinrich ‘Heiri’ Steiner started his own studio in Zürich. From 1934–39 he worked together...

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    Heiri Steiner, Switzerland (1952)

    After studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule under Ernst Keller and in Berlin with O.H.W. Hadank in 1929, Heinrich ‘Heiri’ Steiner started his own studio in Zürich. From 1934–39 he worked together with Ernst Heininger. He was an illustrator, typographer and exhibition designer. Heiri worked on the Swiss Pavillion at the 1937 Poster Exhibition and the Swiss National Exhibition in Zürich. In 1947 he moved to Paris where he was appointed art director for UNESCO publications. He also worked for various publishers on typography and cover illustrations. According to Henrion he could illustrate the unillustratable, including concepts such as fear, anxiety and the neurotic state of mind – a unique achievement. In 1959 he returned to Zürich, where he designed scientific exhibitions for Zürich University and Zoological Museum. He was a man with ideals and ethics, which one can see in his posters, postage stamps and books. He designed Exempla Grafica in 1967.