Walter Zeischegg
        Document 3: Zeischegg to Gugelot


The following letter was sent by Walter Zeischegg to Hans Gugelot in 1961. It provides valuable insights into how the school parted ways with the arts and crafts tradition as interpreted by Max Bill (and Walter Gropius) and evolved toward a modern, educational institution with high intellectual standards. Nowadays many people tend to forget that the Ulm School of Design did not advance to such a high level overnight. To keep the school from stagnating, reformers had to overcome established teaching models and methods. They had to be diplomatic and steadfast, showing considerable restraint and tolerance during conflicts, yet remaining intransigent in the pursuit of their goals.
Zeischegg wrote the following letter in reply to previous correspondence from Gugelot. However, the reader need not necessarily know the content of the earlier letter to understand Zeischegg’s response. The debate focuses on how means, methods and processes influence design.


(in german only)