Knud Valdemar Engelhardt (11 February 1882 – 15 April 1931) was

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

's first industrial designer. Influenced by the architect

Thorvald Bindesbøll Thorvald Bindesbøll (21 July 1846 – 27 August 1908) was a Danish National romantic architect, sculptor and ornamental artist. He designed the Dragon Fountain, Copenhagen (''Dragespringvandet'') and is perhaps best known as the creator of t ...

, Engelhardt understood that successful production depended on both an industrial and a graphical approach. The font he developed for Gentofte's road signs is sensitive and personal but also eminently readable. From 1908 to 1910, he designed electric trams for Copenhagen with intricate detail. The vehicles were functional and cleanable in all weathers, and were well manufactured. Although Engelhardt was an architect, he also exerted a considerable influence on the development of Danish billboards. His printed posters always conveyed clear messages, enhanced by the accompanying text.

Early life

After matriculating from the Technical School, Engelhardt spent three semesters at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts until 1911 when he decided to transfer to the Decorating School where he was instructed by

Joakim Skovgaard Joakim Frederik Skovgaard (18 November 1856 – 9 March 1933) was a Danish painter. He is remembered above all for the frescos which decorate Viborg Cathedral. Biography Born in Copenhagen, from an early age he was trained in drawing and paintin ...

, graduating in 1915."Knud V. Engelhardt"
''Dansk Biografisk Leksikon''. Retrieved 22 January 2013. He had already opened his own studio in 1909.Erik Ellegaard Frederiksen, "Knud V. Engelhardt"
''Kunstindeks Danmark & Weilbachs kunstnerleksikon''. Retrieved 22 January 2013.

Career

As early as 1907, Engelhardt published his contribution on the kilometer stone which was to replace the milestone, suggesting the use of curbstones which were being replaced by paving flags. The smooth side could be engraved with red-painted Roman figures, marking each kilometer. While still at the Academy, he designed new

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

cars for Copenhagen Tramways (''Københavns Sporvogne''), replacing the usual rectangular profiles with rounded contours both inside and out so as to provide a more human look for passengers."Knud V. Engelhardts livsværk"
, Skoletjenesten Kunstindustrimuseet. Retrieved 22 January 2013. Recognized for his typographical talents, in 1923, Engelhardt was invited to design street signs for the Copenhagen suburb of Gentofte. Inspired to some extent by the lettering designed by

and

Anton Rosen Anton Rosen (13 September 1859 – 2 July 1928) was a Danish architect, furniture designer, decorative artist and professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. In his architecture, he combined a free Historicist style with inspiration ...

, he proposed a more simplified style with increased spacing between the letters. The breadth of the letters varied considerably, M and W being much wider than O, for example. His work was so successful that his lettering can still be seen on Gentofte's signs today. They can be clearly identified as Engelhardt's as, in lieu of a signature, he replaced the dot on the J (present on most signs as ''vej'' means road) with a little heart."Danish Typographic Style"
Theo Rosendorf. The Type Desk. 13 February 2014. Also in 1923, he designed billboards for Gentofte. He soon became recognized for his fine lettering in a wide variety of forms and applications, including printing and logos. He practiced in many other fields including architecture (with a house innovatively designed at Højen near Skagen), oven manufacture (for H. Rasmussen, Odense), and the development of functional lines for Bindesbøll.

Assessment and awards

More than anyone else, Engelhardt paved the way for a Danish approach to design and industrial production. He was awarded the Eckersberg Medal in 1927.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Engelhardt, Knud Valdemar Danish architects Danish designers 1882 births 1931 deaths Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni People from Copenhagen Recipients of the Eckersberg Medal