Identity Systems Germany: Visual Identities of the Federal Republic of Germany

With the exhibition “Identity Systems Germany: Visual Identities of the Federal Republic of Germany,” the HfG Archive in Ulm is focusing for the first time on the brand identities of West German companies and institutions after 1945. Historical examples, such as Peter Behrens’ designs for AEG (1907–1914), illustrate the early stages of this development in Germany. The “E5” development group at the Ulm School of Design set new standards for graphic design when, in 1961–62 under the direction of Otl Aicher (1922–1991), it conceived the first systematic visual identity for Lufthansa AG. Other examples come from designers such as Anton Stankowski (1906–1998), who, among other things, created the logo for Deutsche Bank AG, and Celestino Piatti (1922–2007), who designed book covers for Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag. The exhibition offers the opportunity to compare graphic design in the Federal Republic of Germany with the achievements of the HfG Ulm. On display are posters, manuals, logos, printed materials, and much more.

Exhibition dates: October 23, 2026 – March 29, 2027.

This is the first time the exhibition has been shown in Germany. In 2024–2025, it was on view in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan, under the title “Identity Systems Germany,” as a collaborative project between the A5 Collection (Katharina Sussek & Prof. Jens Müller) in Düsseldorf and the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion in Tokyo.

Exhibition dates: October 23, 2026 – March 29, 2027.

Exhibition at the HfG Archive Ulm, Am Hochsträß 8, 89081 Ulm

We would like to thank the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion for its financial support of this project.

The catalog is sponsored by the HfG Ulm Foundation. We would also like to thank HQ Print and Harder Logistics GmbH & Co. KG for their support.