Piet Zwart: Brand Architect Exhibition Reception

The brilliant Dutch modernist Piet Zwart described himself as a “typotekt”. The term captured his multidisciplinary approach, creating a legacy that bridged architecture, industrial design, interior design, graphic design, typography, and photography. Drawing from Letterform Archive’s deep collection of Zwart’s work, this exhibition explores his iconic graphic identity programs for Nederlandse Kabelfabriek Delft (NKF), Dutch Postal Telegraph and Telephone Company (PTT), Bruynzeel Lumber Company, and others.

From the 1920s to the 1960s, Zwart profoundly influenced both the Netherlands and the international graphic design community, and many of his works are celebrated as milestones in design history. His signature photomontages, playful type compositions, and bold color fields elevated everyday subjects into platforms for graphic experimentation, leaving a lasting imprint on future generations of designers.