Jacques Nathan Garamond, France

AGI member since 1951

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Born as Jacques Nathan, he ‘covered up’ his family name during WW2, using it as a middle name and adding Garamond as his surname. This change was inspired by the threatening actions of the German occupiers. Jacques Garamond, Jean Colin, Jean Picart Le Doux from France and the Swiss Fritz Bühler and Donald Brun founded the AGI in December 1951. Jacques’s wife Cathy assisted the young AGI for many years; she was voted an honorary AGI vice-president for life. He studied at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs, and became director of Architecture d’Aujourd’hui before setting up as a designer. Jacques was a teacher at the École Internationale and a professor at the École Supérieure des Arts Graphiques in Paris. His ‘Human Rights’ poster for UNESCO 1949 was his masterpiece. He designed the symbol for the 1956 London AGI exhibition, and was awarded a gold medal at the 1957 Milan Triennale. Jacques and Cathy Garamond were both among the guests at the fabulous 1997 AGI congress in Barcelona.

Design work by Jacques Nathan Garamond


    Jacques Nathan Garamond, France (1951)

    Born as Jacques Nathan, he ‘covered up’ his family name during WW2, using it as a middle name and adding Garamond as his surname. This change was inspired by the...

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    Jacques Nathan Garamond, France (1951)

    Born as Jacques Nathan, he ‘covered up’ his family name during WW2, using it as a middle name and adding Garamond as his surname. This change was inspired by the threatening actions of the German occupiers. Jacques Garamond, Jean Colin, Jean Picart Le Doux from France and the Swiss Fritz Bühler and Donald Brun founded the AGI in December 1951. Jacques’s wife Cathy assisted the young AGI for many years; she was voted an honorary AGI vice-president for life. He studied at the École Nationale des Arts Décoratifs, and became director of Architecture d’Aujourd’hui before setting up as a designer. Jacques was a teacher at the École Internationale and a professor at the École Supérieure des Arts Graphiques in Paris. His ‘Human Rights’ poster for UNESCO 1949 was his masterpiece. He designed the symbol for the 1956 London AGI exhibition, and was awarded a gold medal at the 1957 Milan Triennale. Jacques and Cathy Garamond were both among the guests at the fabulous 1997 AGI congress in Barcelona.