Visuelle Kommunikation (Visual Communication) student Helene Dennewitz’s poster was inspired by a childhood memory that likely brings a smile to most people’s faces: Summer, sun, outdoor pool nostalgia. Her poster, titled »Pommes&chlor« (french fries & chlorine) was designed in the summer semester 2024 »Art, Countries & Visual Identities« course. The task was to create a visual identity for any object the students chose. »My arbitrary object became the theme of an outdoor swimming pool,« explains Dennewitz. »The poster’s design is inspired by the aesthetics of water wings and the warnings and safety markings printed on them, including their typical neon orange colour.« The posters were created using an off-set printing process in the Faculty of Art and Design’s Printing Workshop.

Ossian Osborne, also a Visuelle Kommunikation (Visual Communication) student, has had a poster chosen for the second time in a row. This year, he was recognised for his »Bauhaus Master Lectures« poster depicting lecture series. The design questions the meaning and nature of certifications: Who certifies whom? And what is behind it? Osborne’s design announces the lectures and was produced in the Faculty’s own Printing Workshop using screen printing techniques in cyan and bronze. »We produced certificates in cyan with copper foil embossing for the individual guest lecturers, which they received after their presentations«, says Osborne. Accompanying animations produced by Ivan Djambov provide a look behind the scenes of the design and document the workshop where the poster was created. One of the animations can be seen here: www.vimeo.com/1063474581

The jury for the competition is made up of five individuals and changes every year. This year, the jury was made up of Adeline Mollard (Zurich), Anouk Rehorek (Studio Anouk Rehorek, Vienna), Hans Günter Schmitz (schmitz Visuelle Kommunikation, Wuppertal), Stephanie Specht (Specht Studio, Antwerp) and Jonas Wandeler (Atlas Studio, Zurich).

The winning posters are included in a worldwide exhibition tour. The posters from the »100 Beste Plakate 24« competition will be on display at the Kulturforum for three weeks. The opening event is scheduled for Thursday, 12 June 2025 and can be attended without an invitation. Admission to the exhibition is free of charge.

Helene Dennewitz’s work was supervised by Markus Weisbeck, Professor of Graphic Design, and artistic staff member Adrian Palko. Ossian Osborne was supported by artistic staff members Marcel Saidov and Adrian Palko.

About the competition:
The »100 Beste Plakate Deutschland Österreich Schweiz« is an annual competition organised by »100 Beste Plakate e. V.« with the goal of showcasing outstanding achievements in poster design in the three countries through a yearbook and numerous exhibitions. All genres of posters may be submitted. 

Overview of the designers involved in the 100 best posters of 2024: https://100-beste-plakate.de/wettbewerb/plakatepreistraeger/ 

»Pommes&chlor« Poster
Concept and Design: Helene Dennewitz
Production: Off-set print (70 x 50 cm)
Faculty of Art and Design Printing Workshop: Jörg von Stuckrad
Helene Dennewitz on Instagram: www.instagram.com/lened02

»Bauhaus Master Lectures« Poster
Concept and Design: Ossian Osborne
Animation: Ivan Djambov
Production: Screen print in cyan and bronze (70 x 100 cm)
Faculty of Art and Design Printing Workshop: Jörg von Stuckrad
Ossian Osborne on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ossianosborne.xyz 
Ivan Djambov on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ivi_the_bandit 

Questions can be directed to Romy Weinhold, Press and Public Relations Officer for the Faculty of Art and Design by phone at  +49 / 36 43 / 58 11 86 or by e-mail at romy.weinhold[at]uni-weimar.de