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What did Peter Behrens design for the German company AEG?
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Industrial design
Octagonal electric teakettle of hammered silver, with cane-wicker handle, designed by Peter Behrens for AEG (Allgemeine ElektricitÀts Gesellschaft), Berlin, c. 1909.
Appointed as the artistic adviser for AEG in 1907, Peter Behrens became a pioneer of industrial design by establishing a comprehensive corporate identity for the company. His work for AEG encompassed a wide range of projects, including:12
- Corporate Identity: He developed what is considered the first cohesive visual identity system, which included the company's hexagonal trademark, consistent typeface styles, and geometric grids used across all communications.13
- Graphic Design: He designed catalogs, office stationery, magazines, posters, and other printed materials.13
- Product Design: He created various consumer goods, ranging from small electrical appliances like teakettles and electric fans to street lamps.12
- Architecture: He designed retail shops and the company's factory complex, most notably the turbine assembly works, which featured a pioneering glass curtain wall.12
Behrensâ approach was defined by a philosophy that subordinated style to function, emphasizing the importance of visual order and consistency in industrial manufacturing.3