Alexey Brodovitch was a designer and photographer, best known for art directing Harper’s Bazaar in 1934–59. Brodovitch infused the magazine with a modern aesthetic and initiated collaborations with many of the major figures of twentieth-century photography, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon.
We developed a custom display style inspired by Brodovitch’s interest in Didone typefaces such as Didot and Bodoni, as well as his custom lettering for the cover of Ballet (1945). The typeface formed a central part of our design for Astonish Me, a catalogue accompanying an exhibition at the Barnes Foundation in 2024, which highlighted his influence and relevance.
Philadelphia, US, 2024
Display style
‘APFEL’s gentle homage to [Brodovitch’s] design aesthetic is a delightful extra that makes the featured work feel more contemporary.’
MagCulture
Case Study Section
Cover of Alexey Brodovitch's Ballet, published by J.J. Augustin, New York, 1945.
Subtle detailing and angular terminals modify the letterforms’ conventional features in the modernist spirit of Brodovitch’s designs. The typeface is used in varying layouts and at different angles throughout Astonish Me, mimicking Brodovitch’s dynamic editorial approach to graphic design.
Book photography: Ed Park
