Swiss poster collection inspires next generation of designers

Virginia Tech is home to a very large poster collection. They are predominantly Swiss posters and modernist posters, but there's a large range as well, including a lot from the donor Oscar Fernandez that are from Cuba or from Cuban designers. This collection is a huge benefit to students and faculty. Here it was generously donated by two donors who were teachers themselves. And their goal with this donation was to provide instructional materials for students. Here, collection here was started 30 years ago and I delightfully donated it to Virginia Tech. I feel better about choosing the option of donating it to an institution, a place that will provide those opportunities for students to see them, examine them, learn about them. What excites me a lot about having these posters, this collection here at Virginia Tech is that you hear about these designers, or you read about these specific posters in books, in publications. But the fact that we have them physically here now at Virginia Tech gives us that very unique opportunity to really appreciate them. There's a quality in having the object present. They are in the Art and Architecture Library. Anyone who would like to spend some time with the collection, whether it's part of a class or just as an individual can come to the Art and Architecture library, or send us an e mail and get in touch and we'll set up a time for you to come view the posters and hopefully we'll have other opportunities for them to be on display as well in various parts of campus. It's just nice knowing that they'll continue. Some student will be inspired. A student I'll never meet years from now. But one poster might inspire them. And to learn from them, how all these pioneers really advance the field in visual communication. Not just the poster is the message vehicle, but visual communication as a whole.