Eye Magazine

The ‘Swiss Federal Design Competition’, established in 1923, aims to blur boundaries between art and design and to help young freelances starting out. The work was divided into two categories: small-series (or unique) and large series, rejecting what the organisers termed the ‘harmless arts and crafts’ categories of graphics, photography, textiles, etc.

Seven essays explore the idea of networks, a theme used to support the contention that Switzerland is a small and cosy village, where un-pigeonholed designers know each other and are happy to help each other out (unlike big scary cities like London). In a visual essay, a children’s playground becomes a metaphor for the network.

The prizewinning work is shown in a self-consciously undesigned way, lying casually on judging tables. The whole book is a loosely edited collection of items, texts and materials – as if undesign were somehow ‘friendlier’, but the result is not a lot of fun.