History: Philips founded in 1891 On this day in 1891, the Philips Company was founded by father and son, Frederik and Gerard Philips. The Dutch company initially produced carbon-filament lamps and other electro-technical products. The first factory building in Eindhoven…
History: State of Israel proclaimed in 1948 On this day in 1948 in Tel Aviv, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaims the State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. Ben-Gurion became Israel’s first premier. View at…
History: Otl Aicher born today in 1922 Otl Aicher (1922-1991) was a German graphic designer and typographer known for his influential work in the field of visual communication. He was a co-founder of the design studio "Ulmer Hocker" and was…
History: Mercedes-Benz founded in 1924 Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz merged their two companies 96 years ago on this day and created one of the greatest automobile companies in the world. It started with two different ideas for two different…
History: 1st Coast to Coast Railroad in the USA On this day in 1869, the first coast to coast railroad is completed in the United States. The Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad systems were joined at Promontory Summit in…
History: Josef Müller-Brockmann born in 1914 Josef Müller-Brockmann studied architecture, design, and history of art at the Kunstgewerbeschule and the University in Zurich. At the age of 22, he opened his own studio with a focus on graphic design, exhibition…
History: Nutcracker premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892 On this day in 1892, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Although the original production was not a success, the 20-minute suite that Tchaikovsky extracted…
History: Audrey Hepburn born in 1929 On this day in 1929, screen legend Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston) was born in Brussels, Belgium. The British film and fashion icon was one of Hollywood's largest movie stars during the 1950s…
History: Keith Haring born in 1958 Keith Haring (1958-1990) was an influential American artist and social activist who rose to prominence during the 1980s. Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Haring's distinctive visual language was characterized by bold lines, vivid colors, and…
History: First World’s Fair opens in London On May 1, 1851, Great Britain’s Prince Albert opened the first World’s Fair – then referred to as the Great Exhibition - in Hyde Park, London. The idea for an international fair was…