Ontwerpwerk’s designer Ed Annink has been trying to get graphic designer Gerd Arntz’s work known among a wider audience for years. His tableware set ‘I want the one with the egg’ is the latest manifestation of his efforts. It will be launched by Dutch brand Blitsdesign, an initiative by Kwantum, aimed at making affordable design available for everyone.

The German graphic designer Gerd Arntz (1900-1988) developed an international visual language to make statistical data understandable for a larger audience in the 1920s, in collaboration with the Austrian sociologist Otto Neurath (1882-1945). To this end Amtz designed over 4,000 pictograms in the course of his career, the originals of which are now part of the collection of The Hague’s Gemeentemuseum. Last year Ed Annink launched the website www.gerdartnz.org, for which the museum’s pictograms were digitised, thus making Arntz’s work widely accessible.
 
Despite the fact that some of Gerd Arntz’s pictograms are over eighty years old, they haven’t lost any of their strength. As part of the tableware set they may spark a conversation or a train of thought. Each element evokes its own story. The little clock on the inside of the espresso cup for instance may say something about the time at which we drink our coffee. The pictograms are easily recognisable. Each plate can be combined with a bowl carrying the same image. The design of the tableware set is simple, thus allowing all attention to go to Arntz’s pictograms.

The tableware set ‘I want the one with the egg’ is part of Blitsdesign’s collection and can be purchased at Kwantum. A 17-part tableware set, white with silver-coloured illustrations by Gerd Arntz. Recommended retail price: from € 1,99 to  € 7,99 for individual items.

Via: Ontwerpwerk