Located in a grand neo-classical building in Parc des Bastions, the Bibliothèque de Genève is the University of Geneva library. The library hosts events such as exhibitions, conferences, talks, and workshops. Noteworthy among its regular programs is the December exhibition on the history of the Escalade, and the recurring event “Les jeudis midi à l’affiche,” featuring guest speakers discussing graphic posters from the library’s collection.
Historian Jean-Charles Giroud presents the life and work of Herbert Libiszewski (1897–1985), a major figure in Swiss graphic design who established himself in Paris before returning to Switzerland.
He examines Libiszewski’s contributions to travel poster design, tracing stylistic influences, production contexts and their role in shaping visual culture and tourism. The lecture explores key works, techniques and historical significance, revealing how poster art mediated modern travel imagery and national identity.
In French.
Moderator Claire-Lise Debluë, historian, oversees a series of roundtables bringing together photographers, artists and specialists in research, curatorship and conservation.
The programme examines photography’s bicentennial significance, exploring materiality, circulation, volume and authenticity to interrogate the image’s role in society. Each roundtable discusses research, collections and contemporary practices, often preceded by a presentation of a historical work or related artistic project, revealing connections across history and critical inquiry.
In French.
Anna Haas is a Fribourg-based illustrator and designer, trained in the Netherlands and Lucerne. Her practice spans editorial design, visual identities, digital applications and poster art; she is an internationally awarded practitioner and educator.
This lecture examines how illustration, publishing and digital media converge in contemporary graphic practice. Haas investigates processes that connect editorial storytelling, brand identity and interactive formats, discussing workflows, cross-disciplinary collaborations and the implications for visual communication. Attendees gain insight into designing across print and digital platforms.
In English.
Nask (Nadja Zimmermann and Skander Najar), active for twenty years, has sustained its creativity through dialogue and the clash of ideas.
The session examines the role of encounter in creative processes as a source of meaning, high standards and humanity, exploring how dialogue shapes ideas, sets expectations and informs practice within graphic arts. It investigates themes of collaboration, critique and creative exchange, revealing insights on sustaining rigorous creative work.
In French.
Florian Cafiero and Grégoire Mallard, researchers at the Centre for Digital Humanities and Multilateralism (Geneva Graduate Institute), study digital methods for archival curation and diplomatic history.
This lecture examines how multilateral negotiation archives can be transformed into dynamic research and diplomatic infrastructures through technical demonstration and conceptual reflection. It explores data modeling, accessibility, and interpretive practices to reveal new insights into multilateral processes and to inform both scholarship and diplomatic practice.
Mathilde Veuthey, a graphic designer based between Geneva and Valais, treats the printed poster as an experimental platform, balancing formal constraints with strong visual energy.
This talk examines her creative process and testing methods, exploring layout, typography, and material constraints while investigating punk aesthetics from the 1970s–1980s. Veuthey discusses how constraint-driven play generates unexpected solutions, revealing insights into poster-making’s role in visual culture and communication.
In French.
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Culture, curated weekly.
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