Joseph Binder (1898–1972)
Joseph Binder, the donor and name giver of this competition, was one of the pioneers of the so-called »Viennese style of two-dimensionality« and referred to himself as »graphic designer« at an early date. The basics of his vocabulary of form he drew from the visual arts: from 1922 on, the trained lithographer and typographer studied painting at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts under Berthold Löffler, a contemporary of the Secessonists Kolo Moser, Josef Hoffmann, and Alfred Roller, who were teaching at the same school and whose ambitions for an artistic renewal had an impact on advertising and commercial art produced after the First World War.
It was early in his career that Binder attracted attention in numerous poster competitions in Austria and Germany and in 1926 was honoured with the Republic of Austria’s National Design Prize for the best overall performance of a graduate from the School of Arts and Crafts. Later on, in the 1930s and 1940s, he received multiple awards from the New York Art Directors Club and was came off as the winner of a poster competition for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Having become a successful graphic designer himself, it was a primary concern of his to help young designers on their way with his know-how. The political circumstances prevented him from teaching at his former school, today’s Vienna University of Applied Arts. However, several visiting lectureships in the United States during the first half of the 1930s granted him the opportunity to impart his knowledge and skills to the young generation.
After stays in Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and New York, he settled in the United States for good and in 1944 became an American citizen. His clients in Vienna had included such renowned brands as Meinl, Arabia Kaffee, Persil, Bensdorp, and Wagon-Lit, as well as numerous cultural institutions and tourist organizations; in his new home country, he worked, among others, for the U.S. Navy, the Red Cross, the Association of American Railroads, and United Airlines. In 1934, he published the principles of his commercial art in the book »Colour in Advertising«.
With his works, characterized by clarity, harmony, and dynamics, he paved the way for modern visual communication. In 1935, the »Minneapolis Tribune« wrote about the visiting lecturer at the Minneapolis School of Art: »Joseph Binder, a young artist from Vienna, has revolutionized commercial art in the United States and in Europe, having achieved something that will remain. His designs for posters, packages, and industrial products are creations in the spirit of the modern world.«
It was early in his career that Binder attracted attention in numerous poster competitions in Austria and Germany and in 1926 was honoured with the Republic of Austria’s National Design Prize for the best overall performance of a graduate from the School of Arts and Crafts. Later on, in the 1930s and 1940s, he received multiple awards from the New York Art Directors Club and was came off as the winner of a poster competition for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Having become a successful graphic designer himself, it was a primary concern of his to help young designers on their way with his know-how. The political circumstances prevented him from teaching at his former school, today’s Vienna University of Applied Arts. However, several visiting lectureships in the United States during the first half of the 1930s granted him the opportunity to impart his knowledge and skills to the young generation.
After stays in Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and New York, he settled in the United States for good and in 1944 became an American citizen. His clients in Vienna had included such renowned brands as Meinl, Arabia Kaffee, Persil, Bensdorp, and Wagon-Lit, as well as numerous cultural institutions and tourist organizations; in his new home country, he worked, among others, for the U.S. Navy, the Red Cross, the Association of American Railroads, and United Airlines. In 1934, he published the principles of his commercial art in the book »Colour in Advertising«.
With his works, characterized by clarity, harmony, and dynamics, he paved the way for modern visual communication. In 1935, the »Minneapolis Tribune« wrote about the visiting lecturer at the Minneapolis School of Art: »Joseph Binder, a young artist from Vienna, has revolutionized commercial art in the United States and in Europe, having achieved something that will remain. His designs for posters, packages, and industrial products are creations in the spirit of the modern world.«
History of the Competition
Besides the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna and the New Gallery of the City of Linz (today’s Lentos Museum), designaustria is one of three Austrian institutions benefiting from a foundation established by Joseph Binder in his last will. In return, they are obliged to regularly organize activities in the field of visual communication for a larger community. While the two museums fulfil their commitment through exhibitions and research projects, designaustria, the former Bund österreichischer Gebrauchsgraphiker or Association of Austrian Commercial Artists (BÖG), whose founder member Joseph Binder was, has been organizing the Joseph Binder Award in the form of an international design competition and performance showcase since 1996.
The Joseph Binder Award is held every two years, its focus being on graphic design and illustration. The entries are assessed by an international jury of experts. In the past, such widely recognized authorities as Lo Breier, Gert Dumbar, Fons Hickmann, Freda Sack, Stefan Sagmeister, and Niklaus Troxler participated in the judgement of entries.
The Joseph Binder Award is held every two years, its focus being on graphic design and illustration. The entries are assessed by an international jury of experts. In the past, such widely recognized authorities as Lo Breier, Gert Dumbar, Fons Hickmann, Freda Sack, Stefan Sagmeister, and Niklaus Troxler participated in the judgement of entries.
Previous Members of the Jury
2010
Breier Lo A/D
Breitfeld Susanne D
Dumbar Gert NL
Grothues Jürgen D
Hajek Olaf D
Varin Michaela CH
2008
Alessandri Cordula A
Jokhosha Aladdin D
Rädeker Jochen D
Sagmeister Stefan A/USA
Steinemann Tino CH
2006
Bitsch Barbara D
Felder Peter A
Fuchs Andrea NL
Hickmann Fons D
Landheer Arthur Tim CH
2004
Berkenbusch Anna D
Fent Christine GB
Maatz Joachim CH
Major Darren A/AUS
Silvestri Danilo CH
Stemmler Peter D/USA
Troxler Niklaus CH
Vidale Silvano LUX
Breier Lo A/D
Breitfeld Susanne D
Dumbar Gert NL
Grothues Jürgen D
Hajek Olaf D
Varin Michaela CH
2008
Alessandri Cordula A
Jokhosha Aladdin D
Rädeker Jochen D
Sagmeister Stefan A/USA
Steinemann Tino CH
2006
Bitsch Barbara D
Felder Peter A
Fuchs Andrea NL
Hickmann Fons D
Landheer Arthur Tim CH
2004
Berkenbusch Anna D
Fent Christine GB
Maatz Joachim CH
Major Darren A/AUS
Silvestri Danilo CH
Stemmler Peter D/USA
Troxler Niklaus CH
Vidale Silvano LUX
