Jupp Ernst was a pioneering German designer whose work reshaped postwar graphic and industrial design. Born in Paderborn, he initially trained in graphics at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Bielefeld, then opened a design studio in Berlin before World War II interrupted his career. In the aftermath, Ernst co-founded the artist group Junger Westen, dedicated to promoting functional, forward-looking design principles. His experiences with early modernist figures like Peter Behrens and Bruno Paul shaped his philosophy, motivating him to revive the functional, anti-kitsch principles of Bauhaus in postwar Germany.

Appointed director of the Meisterschule für gestaltendes Handwerk in Wuppertal in 1948, Ernst transformed it into the Werkkunstschule, adding new disciplines like industrial design and creating the Institut für Industrieform. His approach promoted good form, where objects were beautiful, useful, and rooted in timeless principles. A hands-on designer, Ernst created iconic corporate identities for companies like Melitta, Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau, and Resopal, designing the red-green Melitta coffee filter packaging and timeless Afri-Cola bottles. His work frequently merged photography with graphic and figurative elements to communicate a modern aesthetic.

Ernst played an influential role in German design institutions, helping establish the influential Form magazine with Willem Sandberg and Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1957 and participating in the reformation of the German Werkbund. He served as chair at the Werkkunstschule Kassel from 1954 to 1969, where he continued to champion Bauhaus-inspired design. In 1964, he directed the Industrial Design section of Documenta III in Kassel, the first exhibit of its kind there, bringing German industrial design into international prominence.

Ernst’s final years reflected his commitment to art’s role in life, stating that “art is not a luxury, but an interpreter of our times.” His work and vision shaped modern German design, leaving an enduring legacy that merges functional aesthetics with expressive, clear design principles. (hs)