Josef Müller-Brockmann (1914–1996) was a leading figure in Swiss graphic design. Starting the 1950s, he helped to pioneer the Swiss Style that would shape graphic design worldwide for decades. After an early career doing illustrations, Müller-Brockmann did a radical about-face in 1950, henceforth developing an uncompromisingly rational formal language. His posters are legendary and his magazine “New Graphic Design” (1958–1965) spread the doctrine of sober design based on constructive principles across the continents. As a teacher in Japan and at the design schools in Zurich and Ulm, as well as a lecturer and consultant, Müller-Brockmann was a distinctive voice in the design world. He was married to the Japanese-Swiss artist Shizuko Yoshikawa.

Lars Müller, born in Oslo in 1955 and a Norwegian citizen, has been based in Switzerland since 1963. After becoming a graphic designer in Zurich, extended travels, and a one-year assistant position with designer Wim Crouwel in Amsterdam, Müller established his studio in Baden/Switzerland in 1982. In 1983, Müller published his first book and as Lars Müller Publishers, with offices in Zürich, has produced some 600 titles to date.