form existed for over 60 years. Founded in 1957 by Jupp Ernst, Willem Sandberg, Curt Schweicher, and Wilhelm Wagenfeld as “Internationale Revue,” it has established itself over the years as one of the world's leading magazines in product, industrial, and communication design.
Founded as “form. Internationale Revue” by Jupp Ernst, Willem Sandberg, Curt Schweicher, and Wilhelm Wagenfeld. form started as a broad cultural magazine, discussing and publishing not only art, architecture, and industrial design, but also ballet, music, poetry, and design manifestos. The publisher was Friedrich Middelhauve.
1962
Karlheinz Krug becomes the new editor-in-chief. In his role as editor-in-chief (until 1998) and co-publisher (until 2001), the trained industrial designer significantly shaped the magazine's image.
1966
With the subtitle “Zeitschrift für Gestaltung” (Magazine for Design), a reorientation of the magazine, initiated by Karlheinz Krug, became apparent. An international advisory board was also introduced, including Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, Sigfried Giedion, Johannes Itten, Richard Buckminster Fuller, and Max Bill.
1974
Bertelsmann acquires Westdeutscher Verlag. Editor-in-chief Karlheinz Krug, form graphic designer Hanswerner Klein, and publishing merchant Hans Otto Döring remove the magazine from the already finalized sales package. They found Verlag form and subsequently continue to run the magazine independently.
1994
Alex Buck, co-publisher alongside Karlheinz Krug, and Matthias Vogt, managing director, take over the management of Verlag form. In Frankfurt, editor Fabian Wurm and graphic designer Andreas Liedtke shaped form until 1998. This period also saw the relaunch, realized in collaboration with Offenbacher "Büro für Gestaltung." Verlag form begins to publish designer monographs and series such as "Designer Profile," "Design Klassiker," "form Theorie," and "form Diskurs."
1997
The first form website, designed by Mathias Wollin, goes online this year. Internationally renowned designers such as Stefan Sagmeister, Jonathan Barnbrook, Peter Saville, Gunter Rambow, and Mike Meiré design the covers of form.
1999
Karlheinz Krug retires from the editorial board after more than 25 years but continues to serve as co-publisher until 2001. Petra Schmidt succeeds him as editor-in-chief. The “Zeitschrift für Gestaltung” now carries the subtitle “The European Design Magazine” and is published bilingually in German and English.
2002
Birkhäuser Verlag, part of Springer Science and Business Media, acquires the magazine form. Consequently, the editorial office moves to Neu-Isenburg Gravenbruch.
2005
The magazine focuses on the various stages of the design process, which is also clearly indicated by the new subtitle "Making of Design." In addition, the layout of the magazine and website is fundamentally revised by the Frankfurt agency ade hauser lacour.
2006
Gerrit Terstiege, who has been with form since 1997, becomes the new editor-in-chief.
2007
This year, form celebrates its 50th anniversary and moves to Basel, to the headquarters of Birkhäuser Verlag. The magazine archive, created by René Spitz as part of his habilitation project, is made available online with more than 20,000 pages.
2010
The Spanish publisher Actar acquires the architecture and design divisions of Birkhäuser Verlag, and thus also form.
2011
Long-time editor-in-chief and publisher Karlheinz Krug dies at the age of 77.
2012
Bankruptcy of the Swiss Birkhäuser Verlag. Subsequently, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin, acquires the book publishing rights, and Peter Wesner acquires the rights to the magazine and Verlag form. The new editor-in-chief, Stephan Ott, takes over the content direction and the management of the editorial team. form is now published by Verlag form GmbH & Co. KG, Frankfurt am Main.
2013
The Berlin design studio Heimann + Schwantes realizes the relaunch of form. The magazine is visually and content-wise adapted to the requirements and changes of contemporary design discourse. At the same time, the newly designed website also goes online.
2020
Designers Anton Rahlwes and Nina Sieverding jointly take over the editorial leadership of form and declare the following principles for form Magazine for Attitude and Design:
form is an independent magazine dedicated to the design of the visible and invisible, exploring various forms of design, contextualizing them socially, and taking a critical stance.
form understands design as an integral means of shaping relationships and therefore deals with all disciplines of design – and sometimes with completely different things.
form treats design as a serious discipline and is still not devoid of humor. lol
form understands good design as a medium for forward-looking ideas.
form primarily advocates a post-capitalist understanding of design and supports a philanthropic and charitable view of society.
form assumes that we live in fast-paced, digitized times. The consequences of the industrial age and constant growth are becoming visible. form therefore wants to work towards a better future.
form tries to create visibility. form looks for stories and perspectives that receive little attention.
form is feminist, queer, and anti-racist.
For these tasks, form seeks an incisive visual form that presents the material without circumlocution and is supported by accessible language.
2021
Max Pietro Hoffmann (Autostrada Studios) takes over the art direction of form.
2023
After the anniversary and double issue 300 and 301, the publisher ceases production of the magazine. (Press Release)
Verlag form continues to publish books and corporate publishing print products in the fields of design and architecture and offers a lively discursive platform for the design-interested professional community with its regular form Newsletter, the form Website, and form Instagram. All form magazines, books, and form editions continue to be offered for sale.
