Zero: Hans Schleger, a Life of Design

Hans Schleger was a key figure in the history of graphic design. He pioneered the concept of corporate identity and his work has been hugely influential for subsequent generations of designers. Born in Germany into a Jewish family at the end of the 19th century, Schleger began his career in Berlin working for a film company called Hagenbeck, for whom he designed publicity material and some of the film sets. In 1924 he went to New York and was one of a handful of European emigre artists and designers who brought the Modernist approach to American advertising. Returning to Berlin in 1929, he worked for the English advertising agency, Crawfords, as Art Director, emigrating to England after Hitler came to power. He worked in London until his death in 1976.