Jan Le Witt and George Him

Jan Le Witt and George Him were a comparative rarity, a graphic design duo; signing their work as ‘Lewitt-Him’ they brought an innovative use of colour, imaginative abstraction and symbolism to commercial design. Both Polish by birth, they arrived in London in 1937, sponsored by the Victoria and Albert Museum and Lund Humphries. They established their reputation for fine poster work in World War II, and for their exhibition work with their much loved Guinness Clock at the Festival of Britain. In Poland their illustrations for Lokomotywa helped make it a children’s classic and they continued with book illustration throughout their partnership. Of very different temperaments and artistic interests the partnership lasted some twenty years, to January 1955, when Le Witt left to develop his career as an artist. Him continued his commitment to graphic design – illustration, exhibitions and general commercial work – most remarkable of which were his witty illustrations marrying Stephen Potter’s texts for Schweppes – ‘Schweppshire’, one of the longest lasting advertisement campaigns. The Design series is the winner of the Brand/Series Identity Category at the British Book Design and Production Awards 2009, judges said: “A series of books about design, they had to be good and these are. The branding is consistent, there is a good use of typography and the covers are superb.” Also available: Claud Lovat Fraser ISBN: 9781851496631 GPO ISBN: 9781851495962 Peter Blake ISBN: 9781851496181 FHK Henrion ISBN: 9781851496327 David Gentleman ISBN: 9781851495955 David Mellor ISBN: 9781851496037 E.McKnight Kauffer ISBN: 9781851495207 Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious ISBN: 9781851495009 El Lissitzky ISBN: 9781851496198 Festival of Britain 1951 ISBN: 9781851495337 Harold Curwen & Oliver Simon: Curwen Press ISBN: 9781851495719 Paul Nash and John Nash ISBN: 9781851495191 Rodchenko ISBN: 9781851495917 Abram Games ISBN: 9781851496778