Karel Martens: Postcards

Twelve reproductions that distill decades of typographic inquiry into portable form. Karel Martens, the Dutch master who elevated graphic design from craft to intellectual discipline, presents his signature methodology through these meticulously reproduced studies.

Each postcard captures Martens' distinctive approach—transforming found metal forms into vehicles of pure visual communication. Co-founder of Werkplaats Typografie, his influence permeates contemporary design education, yet his personal practice remains refreshingly direct. These reproductions preserve the tactile quality of his original investigations, where systematic exploration meets intuitive discovery.

Karel Martens (b. 1939): the designer's designer. Co-founder of Werkplaats Typografie, educator at Yale, pioneer of systematic experimentation. From postage stamps to building signage, his work spans decades of disciplined exploration. His signature monoprints – geometric experiments with paper and ink – have become legendary among those who understand that constraints breed innovation.

Published to accompany his retrospective at Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum, this collection offers intimate access to a singular design intelligence.

Part of our Karel Martens collection.