The FAZ, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is Germany’s most prestigious newspaper. Conservative in its politics, progressive (or enlightened?) in its coverage of The Arts. For the Federal Republic’s 60th anniversary this weekend they dedicated a complete section to the work of communication designers. They write about the “face of the new Germany” saying that (and I quote loosely) Our true orientation systems are pictures from daily life. Over the Federal Republic’s sixty years designers have done more for the self-image of Germans than all other professions.

Among the illustrations is the system of typefaces that I designed with Christian Schwartz and that was awarded the Federal Design Prize because – as the jury put it – “it represented a major contribution to the country’s visual culture”.

The FAZ’s cover page for 23 May 2009 shows a photograph of a piece of Berlin’s public transit diagramm, “after a design by Erik Spiekermann”. That is true, but only half the story. I lead the team that, in 1990, designed the passenger information system for the BVG (Berlin Transit Authority) in the re-united city. I was responsible for the main parameters, like typefaces, logos, colours, and overall design language. The artwork for the diagramme was done by Brigitte Hartwig, now a professor at Dessau. The up-to-date diagramme (it is not a map!) is downloadable here.