Icon of the 1960s

Produced by British Motor Corporation 1959–2000

Mini logo The original two-door Mini was a small car produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors from 1959 until 2000. It’s now considered an icon of the ’60s. Initially, Minis were marketed under the Austin and Morris names, as the Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, until Mini became a marque in its own right in 1969. The Mini Cooper and Cooper “S” were sportier versions that were successful as rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo Rally four times from 1964 through to 1967. John Newton Cooper was a co-founder, with his father Charles Cooper, of the Cooper Car Company. Born in Surbiton, Surrey, United Kingdom, he became an auto racing legend with his rear-engined chassis design that would eventually change the face of the sport at its highest levels, from Formula One to the Indianapolis 500.

Inspired by Armin Hofmann

Throughout his long career, Armin Hofmann designed posters in the Swiss International Style, in particular for the Basel Stadt Theater. He valued visual communication above everything else in design, used techniques including photo-montage, experimental compositions, and primarily sans-serif typography.

Hofmann wrote a book outlining his design philosophies and practices. His Graphic Design Manual is still a fabulous reference for graphic and web designers.

For after all, a poster does more than simply supply information on the goods it advertises; it also reveals a society’s state of mind.

—Armin Hofmann
Inspiration for my design
Inspiration for my design

About Armin Hofmann

Armin Hofmann is a Swiss graphic designer whose work is known for its abstract shapes and lines. Born in 1920 and now 99 years old, Hofmann first taught, then became head of the Basel School of Design. His work has been widely exhibited in major galleries, including the New York Museum of Modern Art.

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