Kurt Weidemann – typographer, graphic designer, brand identity consultant, and teacher – passed away one week ago at age 88. Widely accepted as one of the most influential typographers of the 20th century, he leaves behind an indelible mark on the industry, as well as printed communications in general. Yet, perhaps the greatest lesson to be taken from his life is in the manner in which he conducted business – with the courage and conviction to follow his strong morals and ethics.

Weidemann’s spirit is beautifully captured in this video from Gestalten TV, filmed in his home studio in Stuttgart. He shares a bit of his rich experiences, including a decade spent breaking rocks at a Russian prison camp during WWII, his work as an identity consultant for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, his views on typefaces, the distinction between professional design and art, and at the very end of the interview…the keys to his success! I highly recommend taking 16 minutes to watch this video.