Henri Kay Henrion
Encyclopedia
Henri Kay Henrion (1914–1990), was a German
graphic designer.
After leaving school he went to Paris, and worked in textile design sweatshop
before studying with poster designer Paul Colin
. In 1936 he moved instead to England
, to work in poster design. He designed a Modern Architectural Research (MARS) Group of architects. During Second World War
he was interned
as an alien but subsequently worked for the Ministry of Information designing posters for campaigns like Dig for Victory, Aid the Wounded, and Grow More Food.
After the war he became art director
at Contact Books and also designed two of the pavilions for the Festival of Britain
. Subsequently he worked in the then emerging field of corporate identity
- ensuring that a company’s visual identity is consistent throughout every medium it uses to communicate with the public. His clients included British European Airways
, KLM, The National Theatre
, and the Post Office
.
Henrion lectured at the Royal College of Art
from 1955 to 1965 and was head of Visual Communication at the London College of Printing
from 1976 to 1976.
Henrion was a member of the Artists' International Association
, the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers (later the Chartered Society of Designers
), and the Council of Industrial Design; in 1952 he became one of the earliest members of Alliance Graphique Internationale
, in which designers from all over the world could meet and share ideas.
He was elected a Royal Designer for Industry
in 1959, and was appointed MBE
in 1951, OBE in 1985.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
graphic designer.
After leaving school he went to Paris, and worked in textile design sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
before studying with poster designer Paul Colin
Paul Colin
Paul Colin was one of France’s greatest poster artists.Made famous in 1925 by his poster for the Revue Nègre, which helped to launch the career of Joséphine Baker , he worked for over forty years in the theatre, creating not only posters but also numerous sets and costumes.Very Art déco at...
. In 1936 he moved instead to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to work in poster design. He designed a Modern Architectural Research (MARS) Group of architects. During Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he was interned
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
as an alien but subsequently worked for the Ministry of Information designing posters for campaigns like Dig for Victory, Aid the Wounded, and Grow More Food.
After the war he became art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
at Contact Books and also designed two of the pavilions for the Festival of Britain
Festival of Britain
The Festival of Britain was a national exhibition in Britain in the summer of 1951. It was organised by the government to give Britons a feeling of recovery in the aftermath of war and to promote good quality design in the rebuilding of British towns and cities. The Festival's centrepiece was in...
. Subsequently he worked in the then emerging field of corporate identity
Corporate identity
In Corporate Communications, a corporate identity is the "persona" of a corporation which is designed to accord with and facilitate the attainment of business objectives...
- ensuring that a company’s visual identity is consistent throughout every medium it uses to communicate with the public. His clients included British European Airways
British European Airways
British European Airways or British European Airways Corporation was a British airline which existed from 1946 until 1974. The airline operated European and North African routes from airports around the United Kingdom...
, KLM, The National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, and the Post Office
Post Office Ltd.
Post Office Ltd is a retail post office company in the United Kingdom that provides a wide range of products including postage stamps and banking to the public through its nationwide network of post office branches.-Structure:Post Office Ltd...
.
Henrion lectured at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
from 1955 to 1965 and was head of Visual Communication at the London College of Printing
London College of Communication
The London College of Communication is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, located in Elephant and Castle. It has about 5,000 students on 60 courses in media and design courses preparing students for careers in the creative industries...
from 1976 to 1976.
Henrion was a member of the Artists' International Association
Artists' International Association
The Artists International Association or AIA was an organization founded in London in 1933 out of discussion amongst Pearl Binder, Clifford Rowe, Misha Black, James Fitton, James Boswell, James Holland and Edward Ardizzone, the first meeting took place in Misha Black’s room at the Seven...
, the Society of Industrial Artists and Designers (later the Chartered Society of Designers
Chartered Society of Designers
The Chartered Society of Designers , headquartered in London, England, is the professional body for designers. It is the world's only Royal chartered body of professional designers...
), and the Council of Industrial Design; in 1952 he became one of the earliest members of Alliance Graphique Internationale
Alliance Graphique Internationale
Alliance Graphique Internationale is a club of the world’s leading graphic artists and designers. There are about 350 members from 27 countries.- History :...
, in which designers from all over the world could meet and share ideas.
He was elected a Royal Designer for Industry
Royal Designers for Industry
Royal Designer for Industry is a distinction established by the British Royal Society of Arts in 1936, to encourage a high standard of industrial design and enhance the status of designers. It is awarded to people who have achieved "sustained excellence in aesthetic and efficient design for...
in 1959, and was appointed MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1951, OBE in 1985.