Book launch | Hard Werken: One for All
4 April 2018 at KINO, Rotterdam
To celebrate the publication of Hard Werken: One for All—Graphic Art & Design 1979–1994, Valiz and Designplatform Rotterdam invite you to an evening about the illustrious design studio Hard Werken. The programme will take place in KINO, in the same building where it all began, almost 40 years ago.
With: Ian Horton and Bettina Furnée, Patricia van Ulzen, Eeva Liukku, Gerard Hadders, Piet Barendse, Rens Muis, Wim Pijbes, Simon Davies, Sereh Mandias. Moderator: Léon van Geest.
Entrance: Free
Language: Dutch (introduction by Ian Horton and Bettina Furnée in English)
Address KINO: Gouvernestraat 129–133
In collaboration with: Designplatform Rotterdam
>At this festive book launch and live talk show, different generations of designers, cultural historians, artists and urbanists will discuss Hard Werkens influence and draw connections between Rotterdam, the cultural scene and the graphic design trade then — in the late 1970's, the 1980's en early 1990's — and now.
About the book
The long-awaited book Hard Werken: One for All is the first major publication on the experimental Rotterdam-based design studio Hard Werken [Working Hard, Travailler dur], also known for the underground magazine of the same name. Hard Werken's anarchic design, smattering high with low culture and running contrary to typographic conventions and modernist currents of the time, characterized this group as a brash, elusive, and distinctly Rotterdam phenomenon. However, working in Rotterdam and Los Angeles, the core members Henk Elenga, Kees de Gruiter, Gerard Hadders, Tom van den Haspel, Willem Kars and Rick Vermeulen also had worldwide ambitions.