Erik SpiekermannGraphic Designer

BiographyBorn May 30, 1947 in Stadthagen,

Lower Saxony, GermanyKnown as a designer & a

typographerLecturer at University of Arts

BremenStudied Art History at Berlin’s Free

University

Early Life 1972-1989 While studying in Berlin’s Free

University Erik funded his own hot metal printing press.

Worked on his own typefaces Started out as a freelance Graphic

Designer in London Returned to Berlin to start MetaDesign

with 2 partners

MetaDesign Started in Berlin in 1979 Partnered with Uli Mayer-Johanssen and

Hans Ch. Krüger Offices in Berlin, Beijing, Hamburg,

Düsseldorf, Zurich and San Francisco Employs 330 employees Europes 3rd largest design agency

MetaDesigns Work Berlin Transport System (BVG) Düsseldorf Airport Authority Audi Volkswagen Ferrari The Economist Group Plus many many more

Berlin Transit System (BVG) Offices overlooking the Berlin Wall Re-building Germany U-Bahn Trams Buses Ferries

Düsseldorf Airport Authority One of Spiekermann’s first and most

important works to date Rebuilt after fire Designed all the signage within the

airport Originally temporary but began

permanent

Later Work 1989-2001 Still works for MetaDesign In 1989 started FontShop Worked with wife Joan Spiekermann Continued working on typefaces

FontShop First ever font seller in digital type

history Five FontShops Worldwide: Australia,

Austria, Benelux, Germany and America FSI FontShop International is the

liscensor for the 5 shops and owns FontShop USA in San Francisco

The other 4 shops are seperately owned

Work Today 2001-Present Left MetaDesign In 2001 Started UDN (United Designers

Networks) also in 2001 Continues work on typography

UDN (United Designers Network) Founded in 2001 3 offices worldwide: Berlin, London and

San Fransisco Employs 60 employees worldwide Graphic Design company Worked with: Carhartt, Utrecht city

Theatre and Enecowind

Typography Spiekermann was well known for his

typefaces He has created 9 typeface to date Independently and with partners Has built both commercial typefaces

and typefaces as part of corporate deign programmes

Erik’s Typefaces Berliner Grotesk Lo-Type ITC Officiana Sans ITC Officiana Serif FF Meta FF Govan FF Info FF Unit FF Meta Serif

Examples of Work

Today Erik spiekermann still works in the UDN Has received many awards:

Gerrit Noordzij Prize - 2003 German Design Award - 2006 European Designers Hall of Fame and Honorary Royal Designer for Industry 2007

Co-Author Book: Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works

“Other people look at bottles of wine or girl’s bottom’s. I just get kicks out of looking at type”Erik Spiekermann - 2007

Sources Wikipedia Google images www.fontshop.com/fonts/designer/

erik_spiekermann/ www.spiekermann.com/en/about/ edenspiekermann.com/