Treffpunkt is a German word meaning “meeting place,” a name that has been used by numerous organizations, venues, and publications across German-speaking Europe. Because the name is generic, no single logo or visual identity can be attributed to it without specific context. This article addresses the most commonly documented Treffpunkt identity: the 1979 logo designed by the Swiss studio Odermatt & Tissi.
Design and History
The Treffpunkt logo attributed to Odermatt & Tissi dates to 1979. The studio, founded in Zurich in 1968 by Siegfried Odermatt and Rosmarie Tissi, was known for its rigorous, constructive approach to graphic design. Odermatt, a self-taught designer, and Tissi, who had trained under him since 1958, operated as equal partners in the atelier community.[1]
The 1979 Treffpunkt mark is a clean, geometric wordmark. It reflects the studio’s characteristic Swiss design sensibility, favoring clarity and balance over ornament. The name itself, meaning “meeting place,” is rendered in straightforward typography that conveys a sense of arrival and gathering without decorative flourish.
Meaning and Symbolism
The wordmark’s meaning is tied directly to its name. “Treffpunkt” translates to “meeting point” or “meeting place” in German, and the logo’s balanced, unadorned lettering visually echoes that concept of a neutral, welcoming space where people come together. The design does not rely on pictorial symbols; instead, the typography itself carries the communicative weight, a hallmark of the Swiss typographic tradition in which Odermatt & Tissi worked.
Typography and Design
The Treffpunkt wordmark uses a geometric sans-serif letterform, consistent with the constructive graphic style that Odermatt helped pioneer in Swiss design. The studio’s work from this period is characterized by a disciplined use of space and a reduction to essential forms.[2] The exact typeface used in the Treffpunkt logo has not been publicly documented, but the letterforms align with the geometric sans-serif tradition prevalent in Swiss design of the late 1970s.
It should be noted that because “Treffpunkt” is a common German noun, many unrelated organizations share the name. The Odermatt & Tissi 1979 mark is one specific instance of a Treffpunkt identity, and other entities using the name have developed their own distinct logos, such as the Treffpunkt Senior symbol designed by Anton Stankowski in 1980.[3]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
