The popularity of generated content and social media is transforming the web. No longer does a site need a flashy intro or exciting graphics to entice a user to dig deeper, search engines and smart architecture bring the user right to what they are seeking, and when they find that… they want to appreciate it for what it is. Usability, readability and find-ability are in style, while hefty load times, blinking graphics, and cluttered pages are out. The best example is the decline of users flocking to MySpace, seeking structure, order and clarity they are now looking to make less visually complex social media hubs their home.

This focus on content is similar to the shift in design that happened after World War II known as the International Typographic Style (or Swiss Style) Movement. The Swiss movement grew out of the Bauhaus and New Typography Movements, which were grounded in functional typography, clear communication, and geometric designs. The Chief characteristics of the international typographic style are designs that include minimal graphics and a focus on typography, sans-serif Typefaces, black and white photography, and grid based layouts. Pioneers of the Swiss style were Max Huber, Emil Ruder, Josef Müller-Brockman, and Armin Hofman. What really helped facilitate the success of this movement was the Swiss governments support of it, adopting it as the look and feel for Switzerland.

Over time the Swiss Style has been used in publications, on posters, and in signage, but I have noticed it is beginning to evolve and become popular online. This evolution has been happening for some time now in the design community but is quickly being spread to social media sites, and the Online News Industry. What has spawned this Swiss revival? I am sure there are lots of factors, but I personally think it may be in part to the renewed interest in typography that has happened since the release of the film Helvetica by Gary Hustwit. Helvetica was one of the premiere typefaces created during the Swiss movement (along with Akzidenz-Grotesk); it’s name is derived from Confoederatio Helvetica the latin name for Switzerland. The film traces the history of the typeface and interviews famous designers who all can relate to Helvetica. It helps to trace the origins of todays design back to the International Typographic Style, and makes typography cool.

While very few sites stay strict to all of the defining qualities of The international typographic style, many are heavily influenced by the overall look, and stay true to many of the features. I put together some comparisons and examples and were amazed by the similarities.

Minimal Graphics and Focus on Typography

Neue Grafik Magazine published 1958-1965

IA Japan is a “Strategic Design Agency” based in Japan.

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Sans-serif Typefaces

One in a series of posters Josef Müller-Brockman designed for the Zurich Opera House. He was interested in the patterns in typography mimicking the rhythm in music.
5ThirtyOne is a blog by Derek Punsalan is a Designer in Seattle.

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Black and White Photography
Publication from the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm
Design by Anthony Froshaug
(photo courtesy of Mason Wells)
Jon Tan is a Designer in Bristol, UK

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Grid Layout

Knoll Poster by Muller-Brockman
Evening Tweed is a graphic Design Collective in the UK

There are 3 specific types of sites that are leading the charge in the resurgence of the Swiss style online, however I am going to save that for another post. A topic I am totally fascinated with, I can assure you there is more to come!

Special thanks to Mason Wells and his fantastic Flickr stream.

As I pointed out in a post just a few months ago I recently joined the super-awesome team at Viget Labs. I’m not just saying they are super-awesome, you can see for yourself here. Along with all the fun design work I have the privilege of working on with them, comes the Viget Inspire blog. It was an idea that was conceived before I joined the company… a series of blogs that focused on specific audiences, rather than one blog trying to knock all the pins down in one throw. I will be honest… when I saw the comp of Inspire in my interview process a little gong rang in my head and I said to myself… “snap, this place is for me”. Recently the whole initiative has gotten a lot of attention on the web, both for the content being written and for the stunning designs. Even the Web Designer wall posted an entire piece on the process. Overall, It is kick-ass to be a part of the whole thing.

So, that brings me to the point of this post, if you like what you read here on Bad Ass Ideas please take a moment to check out the stuff I am writing for Viget Inspire ( you can find my past posts here). While there is no rhyme or reason yet to what I post on that blog versus this blog, I am making it a point to never double post and to post as often there as I do here. My colleagues at Viget are also fantastic bloggers and have written some enormously engaging and interesting information. I recommend you check that stuff out too. And not just on Inspire, there is great stuff across all four blogs . You can subscribe to a master feed of all four blogs here.

Summer needs to hurry the heck up. For me it means weekend trips to the beach to join Jim surfing. Though it is cold outside that doesn’t deter him from hitting the waves or the web to search out the latest in the surfing community. I don’t surf. Not yet. But I do love the overwhelming exposure I get to surf art and culture through him. Everything I learn about it from resin tinting to surf films directly influences my web design, and I hope to feature it more here in the next few months. Not only do I find the art of surfing inspiring but the overall attitude is too.

This evening Jim showed me a board by Tyler Warren that is just stunning. I got so intrigued that I looked up more of his work. At only 21 years of age Tyler is a fluid surfer and has a unique surf art design style.

Check out Tyler’s Work Here at his Website
Most of this info was found via Surfy Surfy a fantastic blog about surfing.

For Christmas I wanted a Wii. I constantly hinted it to Jim and tweeted about it every chance I had. I am actually not a big video game person… I never could beat super Mario Brothers and only loved Duck Hunt because the ducks made funny little expressions when I killed them. Last summer Jim and I went to a friends house to play and I was hooked on the Wii. I still can’t win any of the games, but I enjoy the interaction… and especially making the Miis.

Jim managed to surprise me with a Wii on Christmas despite the grim televised reports that depicted thousands of sad Wii-wanters being turned away from Best Buys across the country. Wii is the bomb-diggity… I can not say it enough… I have made miis for my whole family and posted pics to flickr of bowling and boxing.
So when my friend Carly sent a link to this…

I jumped right on it.

I have been waiting for Valentines day to reveal my amorous surprise. With anticipation and excitement I watched Jim tear into the Wii box of Love to find…
two girl Wii Miis!

Thats not what I planned!
It was suppose to romantically symbolize my passionate devotion. Boy meets geek girl. A love story that could launch a thousand ships. But no…2 girls. Bummer. Its all my bad, seems I all Rick-Santorem-style forgot a couple could be something other than a man and woman and missed that section of the form.

I think these little Chocolate Miis are a Bad Ass Idea… and if you would like to learn more about them and their creator please check out Paul Papes Nouget page.
Please, someone I know get married and have one of his custom Wii Mii Wedding Toppers made.

We are all sitting at our desks doing the same thing… we are all Designing. Who else out there can relate? What does their environment look like? Is anyone else going through the same exact thing I am right now?

Alex Giron created a Design Faces pool on Flickr, and I have really enjoyed seeing the shots taken by other designers as they sit at their computers working their magic. If you are a Designer… join the pool and take a shot. Its great source of inspiration!