When does the opening of the exhibition take place?

The opening takes place on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Doors open at 6:30 PM, the opening at 7:00 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The opening will take place in the cafeteria of the former Ulm School of Design building at HfG Archive Ulm, Am Hochsträß 8, 89081 Ulm.

How long is the exhibition on display?

The exhibition runs from October 23, 2026, to March 29, 2027.

What content does the exhibition show?

Included are logos, posters, manuals, printed materials, and visual systems from designers like Peter Behrens, Otl Aicher, Anton Stankowski, and Celestino Piatti.

Are there regular opening hours during the exhibition period?

The HfG Archive Ulm is open during the exhibition from Tuesday to Sunday and on holidays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Is admission to the opening free?

No specific admission price was mentioned in the available event information for the opening.

How Logos Became Identities: A Fascinating Design History from the Federal Republic

Name: Opening of the Exhibition From Logo to Identity: Visual Representations of the Federal Republic
Start: 2026-10-22T18:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-22T22:00:00+02:00
Location: HfG-Archiv Ulm

From Logo to Identity: An Exhibition about the Visual Language of the Federal Republic

How does a symbol become a distinctive identity? The opening of the exhibition From Logo to Identity: Visual Representations of the Federal Republic at the HfG Archive Ulm takes you into the fascinating history of German graphic design after 1945. The evening features a presentation that makes visible logos, posters, manuals, printed materials, and visual systems as defining testimonies of economic, design, and social history.

An Evening Marked by Modern Graphic Design

The opening will take place on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in the cafeteria of the former Ulm School of Design building. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the opening starts at 7:00 PM. This will introduce an exhibition project that will be seen for the first time in Germany from October 23, 2026, to March 29, 2027.

From AEG to Lufthansa: Design as a Visual System

The exhibition traces how extensive visual representations developed from individual trademarks after 1945. Historical designs by Peter Behrens for AEG from 1907 to 1914 illustrate the early foundations of modern corporate design. A central reference point is the development group E5 of the Ulm School of Design, which conceived the first systematic corporate appearance of Lufthansa AG under the direction of Otl Aicher in 1961 and 1962.

Other works come from Anton Stankowski, whose design, among others, shaped the logo of Deutsche Bank, and Celestino Piatti, who set standards with his book covers for the German Pocket Book Publishing House. In the examination of works, symbols, typography, grids, color, and order emerge as elements of an independent visual grammar.

Aesthetic Experience between Clarity and Cultural Memory

The exhibition atmosphere arises from the interplay of graphic precision and historical traces. Posters, logos, printed materials, and design manuals show how visual communication creates orientation while simultaneously conveying values. The objective form language of the HfG Ulm engages with different positions of German post-war modernism.

The presentation combines art historical classification with cultural education. It makes it comprehensible how companies and institutions developed their public identity and how social changes influenced the tasks of design. The art experience is aimed at design enthusiasts, students, professionals, and all visitors who want to engage with the familiar symbols of everyday life with renewed attention.

An Exhibition with an International Background

Under the title Identity Systems Germany, the exhibition was already on display in Kyoto and Tokyo in 2024 and 2025. The project was created in cooperation with the A5 Collection from Düsseldorf and the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion in Tokyo. In Ulm, the exhibition receives a special resonance as it is presented directly at the historical site of the School of Design.

Conclusion: Graphic Design as a History of Identity

The opening at the HfG Archive Ulm promises an inspiring evening between design history, visual culture, and social memory. Visitors will experience how logos transform into complex identity systems and why the design principles of the post-war period continue to have an impact today. Those who wish to experience the aesthetic power of clear forms, the history of HfG Ulm, and the development of German brand identities firsthand should definitely visit this exhibition live.