Lora Lamm

Lora Lamm (11 January 1928, Arosa – 23 March 2025) was a Swiss illustrator and graphic designer known for her works for Pirelli and La Rinascente. Her distinctive style, characterized by clean lines, bold use of colour, and playful experimentation, made her prominent in graphic design during the 1950s and 1960s.

Life and career Training and early career On the suggestion of a teacher at her secondary school, Lamm trained in graphic design at the Zurich Kunstgewerbeschule (School of Arts and Craft) under Johannes Itten, Ernst Keller and Ernst Gubler, among others. After graduation, between 1952 and 1953, she worked for a short period in the graphic design studio of Romain Sager in Zurich, part of the Triplex agency, before moving to Milan upon the advice of Max Huber, who had also attended the Kunstgewerbeschule.

Graphic designer in Milan Soon after moving to Milan in 1953, Lamm began working for Studio Boggeri, a centret for Italian graphic design during those years, under the coordination of Frank C. Thiessing. The Studio, founded by Antonio Boggeri in 1933, viewed some of the most Italian, German, and Swiss graphic designers, like Erberto Carboni, Fortunato Depero, Franco Grignani, Max Huber, Enzo Mari, Armando Milani, Bruno Monguzzi, Bob Noorda, Xanti Schawinsky, Albe Steiner and Carlo Vivarelli. Despite the mainly male working environment, a Swiss designer whom she considers her first important mentor.

Graphic style Although illustration is the essential component of Lora Lamm's style, she still considered herself a graphic designer.. She shifted the role of the poster from an artistic endorsement to a "work of art in the service of the advertisement" (Mario Piazza). (2006). Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Zurich. October 24, 2006 – February 23, 2007 Lora Lamm. Grafica a Milano 1953–1963 / Graphic design in Milan 1953–1963 (2013). m.a.x. museo, Chiasso (CH). May 24, 2013 – July 21, 2013 Lora Lamm – La vita è bella (2015). Museum für Gestaltung Zürich. June 24, 2015 – August 16, 2015

Awards Schweizer Grand Prix Design (2015)