Uncovering Polish Pharmaceutical Graphic Design: Do użytku zewnętrznego 1960–1980

This exhibition showcases a previously unexhibited collection of leaflets and drug catalogs from the Polish pharmaceutical industry between 1960 and 1980. The graphic designs, while functional, reflect the artistic style of the Polish poster school, highlighting a period of industrial growth and evolving communication language in pharmacy.

The exhibition "Do użytku zewnętrznego. Grafika w przemyśle farmaceutycznym 1960–1980" presents an unexhibited collection of leaflets and drug catalogs designed for the pharmaceutical industry during the 1960s and 1980s. These prints, despite their purely informational function, echo the style of the Polish poster school and demonstrate a high artistic level. Displayed within the Antonina Leśniewska Museum of Pharmacy among objects from the main exhibition on the history of medicines, this exhibition draws attention to the artistic quality of the designs and the historical moment when the pharmaceutical industry's production of medicines significantly increased, necessitating new communication languages and signaling changes in the traditional role of pharmacies. During the 1960s and 1970s, the developing Polish pharmaceutical industry sought new ways to reach doctors with its state-produced medicines, particularly antibiotics. Informational campaigns highlighted therapeutic value, applications, side effects, and clinical studies, with leaflets serving to encourage the prescription of domestic drugs and boost sales. These materials also worked to legitimize the manufacturer and build an image of a modern, competent producer. The designs featured were created by leading designers of the era, including Maciej Hibner and Jerzy Treutler, though many authors remain unidentified. The unique visual language of these projects aligns with the formal solutions of contemporary advertising art, employing color fields, simple graphic motifs, and collage techniques to illustrate how specific drugs worked. Abstract line drawings depicted antispasmodic effects, hypnotic circles represented sleep aids, and graphic elements signified antibiotic efficacy, showcasing a high artistic standard in mass-produced promotional materials.

Normal ticket: 10 PLN, Reduced ticket: 7 PLN. Thursdays are free. Special free admission period from September 16-30 as part of the Warsaw Science Festival. Booking is available via the provided link.