City-Druck was a Swiss printing company based in Zurich, active from 1931 to 1982. Its visual identity is remembered as a notable example of Swiss graphic design from the mid-20th century, created by the prominent Swiss typographer and graphic artist Walter Käch.
Design and History
The City-Druck trademark was designed by Walter Käch (1901-1970), a Swiss graphic artist and lettering teacher at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich from 1940 to 1967.[1] The mark appears on the cover of the company’s type specimen book, Die Schriften der City-Druck AG. Zürich, published around 1949, where it was stamped in gold foil on the black hardcover binding.[2] Logo databases date the design to 1946 and describe it as a logotype featuring the letters C and D within a circular holding shape.[3]
City-Druck AG operated in Zurich from 1931 until 1982.[4] During its later years, the firm commissioned graphic design work from several notable Swiss designers, including Siegfried Odermatt, Rosmarie Tissi, Walter Bangerter, and Nelly Rudin, who created advertisements and printed materials for the company from around 1952 onward.[2][5][6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The City-Druck mark is a monogram-style logotype combining the letters C and D, the initials of the company name, arranged within a circular form.[3] No documented interpretation of specific symbolic meaning beyond the company initials has been recorded in available sources.
Typography and Design
Käch was a leading figure in Swiss lettering and typography. His 1949 manual on lettering forms served as a foundational reference for students and professionals at the Zurich School of Applied Arts for decades.[7] The City-Druck trademark reflects his typographic expertise, though specific details about the letterforms used in the mark have not been documented in available sources.
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