The Ulm School of Design

Johannes Itten 

Johannes Itten was a Swiss expressionist painter who taught at the Bauhaus and then later at the HFG Ulm. His work focussed deeply on colour theory and he wrote books explaining his findings in relation to colour. His work were abstract and expressionistic but the main focus was always the colour. 

He taught on the preliminary course where he explained to his students his "seven types of colour contrasts" theory that he developed. The seven contrasts are; hue, value, temperature, compliments saturation, extension and simultaneous contrast. This gave his students a superior understanding of how to use colour. Itten also developed a few colour wheels and some colour palettes that were based on moods and seasons. He was strongly into meditation and used this as a way to develop inner understanding and intuition which he accredited his work to. 

Ittens seasonal colour palettes influenced cosmetics companies shortly after his death and are still used in fashion and cosmetics today because of his incredible colour schemes and how well they represent the seasons they were made for. Itten's influence was felt in almost all media though because he had such a profound understanding of colour and was kind enough to share it with.

Itten's idea of the purpose of the Bauhaus caused conflict among the other masters because while the others wanted to push the bauhaus towards manufacturing and producing products to reproduce and sell, Itten believed solely in artistic expression and self discovery. The Bauhaus did end up becoming heavily involved in manufacturing and while this displeased Itten, he continues to teach there until the school was dissolved. 

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Lecture Notes