Ulm School of Design
The Ulm School of Design (HfG) was a famous design school that followed the Bauhaus design. Founded in 1953 by Inge Aicher-Scholl, Otl Aicher and Max Bill with the support of the USA it became well-known for the idea that form follows function and the expression “to ulm up”. The HfG was closed in 1968.
Buildings
The HfG buildings are situated far-off the center of the provincial Swabian city Ulm. It seems that the HfG never really managed to establish a relationship to the people of Ulm. The war was just over and people struggled to get comfortable in their new realities when these strange designers from all over the world appeared in Ulm just to preach the end of German kitsch and comfy arm chairs.
When I first saw the HfG buildings I just found them cold and empty. Its rooms and halls are high and light-flooded. When it was built only the cheapest material was available and students had to help during the construction work.
Interiors
The only non-angled place at the HfG was the curved bar in the cafeteria. It was the place to eat, meet and discuss. In the beginning there weren’t enough chairs for the students. Max Bill invented the Ulm stool, a kind of makeshift chair. Each student had to assemble his own stool, a practical piece of furniture for sitting, as a table or tray. Today they are sold as expensive design product
The HfG foyer today
The foyer during the 60s
the curved bar
Today the buildings are used as a day hospital for psychologically impaired people. But the city of Ulm is planning to establish a “designpark”. The HfG Archives are going to move back in there too. Right now there is not much to see inside except a suite of armchairs and a table. However the Ulmer Museum has a remarkable exhibition with HfG design displays.
Ulm stools
Exhibits at the museum
This poster is the only HfG piece I own. It was designed for the Ulmer Christmas market at around 1965 by the visual design group working with Otl Aicher. The background shows the entrance of the famous Ulmer Minster which is the tallest church in the world. At that time the market sqare around the minster was a giant parking lot.
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