Atelier Bundi

If one wanted to pinpoint a trademark of the Swiss graphic designer Stephan Bundi, it would be the perfect marriage of timeless and contemporary design. His portfolio reads almost like a theatre programme – countless stage plays have been visually interpreted by him. When asked about his successful career, Bundi refers to Kurt Weidemann: “He once convinced me with the remark, ‘Good work propagates itself.’ So I never tried to acquire commissions but trusted that I would convince people with my work.”

Interview with Atelier Bundi 

Red Dot: How do you manage to reinterpret new pieces time and again, especially classical ones?
Atelier Bundi: Most themes in theatre and opera revolve around love and death. Therefore, when conveying a message with images, I cannot resort to superficial metaphors like hearts and skulls. I have to fathom and visualise what is special, what is unique about a play.

The poster “Cyrano” also abstracts and yet conveys the essence …
Playing with perception is essential in poster design. I can only attract attention with unusual, surprising images. At the same time, the reference to the play must not be ignored. About the poster: Cyrano believes that he will never be able to win a woman’s favour with his exceptionally large nose. With his poetic talent, he selflessly helps his friend to win the affection of Roxanne, whom they both adore. He does not reveal himself as the author of the poems, which is why he is shown in a withdrawn way (wearing a mask) on the poster.

You have already created many posters for Biel Solothurn Theatre. How much freedom are you given?
I had not applied for a commission from them, so the theatre directors either knew my work or were made aware of it. In other words, my approach as a designer was recognised and acknowledged from the beginning. A certain amount of freedom is essential for a successful collaboration. This has often led to controversies with the communications department and the dramaturgy team. You have to be able to justify and defend an idea convincingly.

Does the power of a series unfold more in a long-term collaboration?
Yes, because before a poster is ready to print, there are several dozen preliminary drafts that I discard for various reasons. Image ideas that don’t fit the current play may be just right for a later commission. The more designs, the more ideas and variation possibilities arise.

Are posters one of those analogue media that will never disappear?
The poster is transforming more and more from a print medium into a digital one. As a medium of information, it cannot be surpassed thanks to its maximum reach within a city context, regardless of technology. Digital media, websites and social networks are indispensable, but before I search for information on the internet, I first find out through a poster that a certain event is taking place at all.