Johnson / Kingston is
a design studio based
in Bern / Luzern.
( ´◔ ω◔`) ノシ
Johnson / Kingston
Güterstrasse 6a
3008 Bern
Bernstrasse 2
6003 Luzern
· Ivan Weiss and Michael Kryenbühl started their studio Johnson / Kingston in 2012. In self-initiated as well as in commissioned projects and their teaching (づ  ̄ ³ ̄)づ , they focus on the intersection of design and technology in contemporary graphic design (っ◕‿◕)っ.
· In a long term project on digital publishing, they explored the potential of web based and networked media in design. With an interest in coding and tool building, they develop projects in digital and printed media, custom workflows and typefaces. In their client related work, they focus on questions of contemporary forms of identities for cultural and educational institutions and explore new aesthetic (ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*:・゚✧ and technical approaches in image making.
· Their work has been shown internationally and has been granted with the Swiss Design Award twice, in 2017 and 2010. From 2017 to 2023 they held a regular professorship ༼ ºل͟º༽ for communication design with a focus on new media at Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe in Germany.
Ivan Weiss
2017–2023
 Professor an der Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe Fachbereich Kommunikationsdesign – Gestaltung von digitalen und vernetzten Medien
Since 2011
 Arbeit als selbstständiger Grafiker in Luzern und Bern
2009 – 2010
 Projektmitarbeit bei Ludovic Balland, Basel
2006 – 2009
 Bachelor of Arts in visueller Kommunikation mit Vertiefung Graphic Design an der Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst
2002 – 2006
 Gymnasiale Matura im Fernstudium, AKAD
1998 – 2002
 Lehre als Polygraf bei der Büetiger AG in Biberist
Michael Kryenbühl
2017–2023
 Professor an der Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe Fachbereich Kommunikationsdesign – Gestaltung von digitalen und vernetzten Medien
Since 2014
 Prüfungsexperte im Qualifikationsverfahren für GrafikerInnen EFZ, Kanton Luzern
Since 2011
 Arbeit als selbstständiger Grafiker in Luzern und Bern
2011 – 2016
 Anstellung als Creative Director bei der exanic AG in Zug, Fokus Webdesign/digitale Medien
2006 – 2009
 Bachelor of Arts in visueller Kommunikation mit Vertiefung Graphic Design an der Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst
2000 – 2004
 Gymnasiale Matura in Schwyz
Awards / Nominations
2020
Scholarship der Zentralschweizer Kantone, Berlin
2019
Werkbeitrag Berner Design Stiftung
2019
Nomination Werkbeiträge Kanton Lucerne
2019
100 Best Posters D, A, CH 2018
2017
Swiss Design Award, Swiss Federal Office of Culture
2016
Auszeichnung «Förderbeitrag für Vermarktung» der Berner Design Stiftung
2016
100 Best Posters D, A, CH 2015
2015
Scholarship visarte Zentralschweiz, Cité des Arts, Paris
2015
Bronze award, 11th International, Poster Triennial in Toyama, Japan
2015
100 Best Posters D, A, CH 2014
2014
Residency «Sasso Residency, Vairano»
2014
Golden Bee Moscow, Jury Selection
2014
100 Best Posters D, A, CH 2013
2013
Werkbeitrag «Berner Design Stiftung»
2012
100 Best Posters D, A, CH 2011
2012
Nomination Swiss Design Award, Swiss Federal Office of Culture
2010
Swiss Design Award, Swiss Federal Office of Culture
2009
Nomination Design Prize, Lucerne School of Art and Design
2009
:output 13, International Yearbook for Students in Design and Architecture
2008
:output 12, International Yearbook for Students in Design and Architecture
Lectures / Talks
2024
Schule für Gestaltung, Basel
2024
Schule für Gestaltung (SfGBB), Berne
2024
Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2024
«Friction Addiction – Against Digital Perfection», Interactive Media Design Days, Schule für Gestaltung, St. Gallen
2024
«Graphic Design + KI = ?», HfG Offenbach (Germany)
2024
«Digital Editorial», Burg Giebichenstein
Kunsthochschule Halle (Germany)
2023
Canape, Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne
2022
Hochschule der Künste, Bern
2020
F+F School for Art and Media Design, Zurich
2019
Lecture and Symposium, Weltformat Graphic Design Festival Lucerne
2019
WIPF3, Global Gallery, Korea Foundation, Seoul (South Corea)
2018
Inaugural lecture, HfG Karlsruhe (Germany)
2018
Hochschule für Gestaltung und Buchkunst (HGB), Leipzig (Germany)
2018
International Design School, St. Petersburg (Russia)
2018
AED, Stuttgart (Germany)
2018
TSU, Typomania Tomsk, Siberia (Russia)
2018
Typomania Festival, Moscow (Russia)
2017
Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne
2017
FHNW Basel School of Arts, Basel
2017
Fachtagung Digitale Grundkompetenzen, Berne
2017
Typoclub, Bern University of the Arts (HKB), Berne
2017
Recyclart, Brussels (Belgium)
2017
Weltformat, Cairo (Egypt)
2017
American University, Cairo (Egypt)
2016
Merz Akademie, Stuttgart (Germany)
2016
Vladivostok State University of Economics & Service, Vladivostok (Russia)
2016
Weltformat Symposium, Lucerne
2015
Master Communication Design, Bern University of the Arts (HKB), Berne
2015
Bestform, Kornhausforum, Berne
2014
Higher School of Economics, Moscow & Moscow Design Week
2014
FUBU, Bachelor/Master Visual Communication at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2013
Master Communication Design, Bern University of the Arts (HKB), Berne
2012
Bachelor Visual Communication, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2012
CAS Book Design, Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne
Exhibitions
2023
Intl – Graphic Design Festival Scotland
2023
Cantonale Bern-Jura, Kunsthaus Steffisburg
2022
Sammeln, Reden, Entscheiden – Orte der Demokratie, Politforum Bern
2021
Bestform, Kornhausforum Bern
2019
Werkbeiträge Luzern, Kunstplattform Akku
2019
GDFS, Graphic Design Festival (Scotland)
2019
Weltformat Graphic Design Festival, Lucerne
2019
WIPF3 – International Poster Festival, Global Gallery Korea Foundation, Seoul (South Korea)
2019
Chaumont Biennale de design graphique (France)
2019
100 Beste Plakate 2018, Berlin (Germany)
2018
Typomania, Moscow (Russia)
2018
Typomania, Tomsk, Siberia (Russia)
2019
Trnava Poster Trienniale (Slovakia)
2018
Weltformat Plakatfestival, Lucerne
2017
Hong Kong International Poster Triennial, Hong Kong Heritage Museum
2017
Contemporary Swiss Posters from Lucerne, Radio Cinema Passageway, Cairo (Egypt)
2017
Weltformat Korea: Tourism Posters, Platform 61, Seoul (Korea)
2017
Lahti Poster Triennial (Finland)
2017
Chaumont Biennale de design graphique (France)
2017
Graphic Design Festival Paris (France)
2017
Swiss Design Awards, Basel
2016
Swiss Style Now, Cooper Union, New York (USA)
2016
All Gold of the World, Golden Bee Biennial, Moscow (Russia)
2016
Typomania, Moscow (Russia)
2016
Swiss Made, Novy Museum St. Petersburg (Russia)
2016
Off Programme – Corporate, Custom and Bespoke Fonts, Brno Graphic Design Biennial, Brno (Czech Republic)
2016
Swiss Graphic Design, Hangzhou (China)
2016
Swiss Graphic Design, Shanghai (China)
2016
Lucerne Poster, Trans Design, Shanghai Westbund Art Centre, Shanghai (China)
2016
SOL Center for Contemporary Art, Vladivostok (Russia)
2015
Toyama Poster Triennal, The Museum of Modern Art, Toyama (Japan)
2015
Trnava Poster Trienniale (Slovakia)
2015
Frische Tourismusplakate, Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, Luzern
2015
Bestform, Kornhausforum Bern
2015
Weltformat Plakatfestival, Lucerne
2015
Schweiz / Japan: Calm & Punk Gallery, Tokyo + Vitrine Gallery, Kyoto (Japan)
2015
L’affiche Lucernoise, Chaumont Design Graphique (France)
2014
Swiss Graphic Design, Samwon Paper Gallery, Seoul (Korea)
2014
Chaumont Biennale de design graphique (France)
2014
Golden Bee, Moscow (Russia)
2014
Das Luzerner Plakat, Berlin/Neukölln (Germany)
2014
Posterdesign from Lucerne, Traveling Exhibition through Russia
2014
Grafik Leipzig / Luzern, Leipzig (Germany)
2011
Soirée Graphique ’11, Bern
Teaching / Workshops
2024
CAS Type & Brand
«Sampling / Sequenzing», Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
2024
Type on Screen, Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne
2023
Type on Screen, Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne
2019
Workshop at WIPF3, Seoul (South Korea)
2018
Workshop at HGB Leipzig (Germany)
2018
Workshop at International School, St. Petersburg (Russia)
2018
Digitorial Design, F+F School for Art and Media Design, Zurich
2018
Workshop at F+F School for Art and Media Design, Zurich
2017
Digitorial Design, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
2017
Workshop at Contemporary Image Collective, Cairo (Egypt)
2017
Any Mate Can Animate, F+F School for Art and Media Design, Zurich
2017
Workshop at Typoday Biel / Bienne
2016
Workshop at Vladivostok State University of Economics & Service, Vladivostok (Russia)
2016
Digitorial Design, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2016
Workshop at Weltformat Festival, Lucerne
2016
Workshop at Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG), Karlsruhe (Germany)
2015
Digitorial Design, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2015
Digitorial Design, F+F School for Art and Media Design, Zurich
2014
Guest seminar, Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG), Karlsruhe (Germany)
2014
FUBU: Visual Playgrounds, Bachelor/Master Visual Communication, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2014
Workshop at Master Communication Design, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Zurich
2013
Guest seminar, Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG), Karlsruhe (Germany)
Interviews / Features
Page Magazin
AIGA Eye on Design
Etapes No 225
Ligature
It's Nice That
Form Magazin Nr. 275
Typeroom
Swiss Design Awards
Berner Design Stiftung
Washington Post, Watson
Residencies
2021
Berlin (Zentralschweizer Kantone)
2018
Belgrade (Swiss Design Awards, Bundesamt für Kultur)
2015
Paris, Cité internationale des arts (Visarte Zentralschweiz)
2015
Vairano, Sasso Residency
2011
New York (Swiss Design Awards, Bundesamt für Kultur)
Jury
2024
Bern University of the Arts (HKB), Berne, Bachelor Visual Communication
2021
F+F School for Art and Media Design, Zurich, Bachelor Visual Communication
2020
Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne, Bachelor Graphic Design
2018
100 Beste Plakate 2017, UdK Berlin
2017
Weltformat Graphic Design Festival, Students Competition
2014 – 2020
Grafikfachklasse Luzern, Eidgenössischer Fachausweis
IMPRINT
A website by Johnson / 
Kingston
Proof reading by Raffael von Niederhäusern
Portraits by thispersondoesnotexist.com
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