Schweizerischer Werkbund

Swiss artists organization

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July 13, 2026

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The Schweizerischer Werkbund (SWB) was a Swiss organization of artists, artisans, and architects founded in 1913. It was inspired by the Deutscher Werkbund, an influential German group established in 1907. The Werkbund aimed to promote good design and craftsmanship for mass-produced goods and architecture, advocating for functional forms and the elimination of excessive ornamentation.1

The SWB, like its German counterpart, sought to integrate artistic principles with industrial production. This movement emphasized the importance of well-designed, functional objects and buildings, contributing to the broader discourse on modern design and its role in society.1

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Deutscher Werkbund
…1912) and in Switzerland (Schweizerischer Werkbund, 1913). Sweden’s Slöjdföreningen was converted to the approach by 1915, and England’s Design and Industries Association (1915) also was modeled on the Deutscher Werkbund.
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…1912) and in Switzerland (Schweizerischer Werkbund, 1913). Sweden’s Slöjdföreningen was converted to the approach by 1915, and England’s Design and Industries Association (1915) also was modeled on the Deutscher Werkbund.
Read More