“Designers” the Edward McKnight Kauffer and Marion Dorn Plaque declares. Edward McKnight Kauffer and Marion Dorn lived in flats 139 and 141. But who were these influential figures commemorated by this Edward McKnight Kauffer and Marion Dorn Plaque?
Edward McKnight Kauffer born in 1890 was an American artist. He became a leading graphic designer. Kauffer made his mark in the United Kingdom. He excelled in poster art. But he was also a painter, book illustrator and theatre designer.
Kauffer’s early life began in Great Falls, Montana. By 1910, he was in San Francisco. He worked as a bookseller. He also studied art. Professor Joseph McKnight sponsored Kauffer. In gratitude, Kauffer adopted McKnight as his middle name.
In 1914, Kauffer moved to London. He designed 140 posters for London Underground. His posters spanned many styles. These included abstract art, futurism, cubism and vorticism. Others evoked impressionist influences. Japanese woodcuts inspired him.
He also created posters for Shell Oil. He worked for the Great Western Railway. Kauffer illustrated books and book covers. Later, he explored textiles. He ventured into interior and theatrical design.
Marion Dorn born in 1896 was a textile designer. She created wall hangings, carpets and rugs. Dorn also produced wallpaper, graphics and illustrations. She significantly contributed to modern British interiors. Her sculpted carpets became her signature. She enhanced the Savoy Hotel and the Queen Mary.
In 1936, Dorn designed moquette fabrics for London Transport. Her designs featured in passenger vehicles. Chesham, Colindale, Canonbury and Caledonian were her creations. Londoners used these designs into the 1960s.
Kauffer and Dorn’s paths crossed in Paris in 1923. They lived together in London from late 1923. In July 1940, they moved to New York City. They married in 1950 but separated in 1953.
Kauffer secured commissions with MoMA. He produced war propaganda posters. American Airlines became his primary client. In 1952, he designed the dust jacket for Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Kauffer died in 1954.
Dorn completed her last major commission in 1960. It was a carpet for the White House. She collaborated with architects. Oliver Hill and Wells Coates were among them.
This Edward McKnight Kauffer and Marion Dorn Plaque commemorates two American designers. They left an indelible mark on London. Their innovative designs shaped the city’s visual landscape. They influenced the daily lives of Londoners for decades. Their legacy continues to inspire.