Soviet Maverick - El Lissitzky

We thought we'd take time out to celebrate one of our favourite historical periods of graphic design, the Soviet constructivists. In particular, one if it’s leading stars, El Lissitzky.

Born in 1890 to a small Jewish family in the far out reaches of the then Russian empire, El Lissitzky was destined to dedicate his life to design and its principles.
In 1909 he moved to study architectural engineering in Germany. But it wouldn't be until 1917 that he would start to employ the graphical and typographic devices that would make him hugely influential.

What followed was 24 years of inspired, precise and effective design across typography, photomontage, book design and propaganda.
His use of block like shapes, constrained colours and photography, came together to create dynamic, multi-layered works that served to excite and inform.

His work was hugely influential and spurred on the likes of the De Stijl and Bauhaus movements which would go on to be prominent until this day.

We've collated some of our favourite El Lissitzky pieces below for your viewing pleasure. All of them fantastic in design, all of them hugely original, all of them hugely inspiring.