The Swiss-born artist (Basel, 1930), Karl Gerstner, is known for his incorporation of the International Typographic Style. This style championed geometric shape, asymmetry, negative space, and the lack of purely decorative elements.

Gerstner worked in the advertising industry and founded one of Switzerland’s most prosperous agencies, Gerstner + Kutter in 1959. The agency grew to house offices in many major European cities. Upon exiting the advertising business, Gerstner worked in publishing and as an independent consultant. His art reflects his work in these graphic design focused industries.