Max Caflisch was one of Switzerland’s most eminent typographers, book designers and calligraphers.

1932–36, he trained as a compositor, later worked as typesetter. His teachers included Jan Tschichold and Imre Reiner. 1941–42, Caflisch taught typography at the General Crafts School (Allgemeine Gewerbeschule) in Basle. 1943–62, he was art director of the Benteli printing works in Bern. 1962–81, he was teacher of typography and head of the graphics department at the School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule) in Zurich. 1973–78, he was lecturer at the Technical School of the Printing Industry (Technikerschule der grafischen Industrie) in Zurich.

Caflisch worked as type design consultant for IBM (New York, 1962–66), for the Bauer typefoundry (Frankfurt, 1965–66), for the Dr. Rudolf Hell company (Kiel, 1972–89) and for Adobe Systems (San Jose, since 1990). Caflisch designed the Columna typeface, and Robert Slimbach designed Caflisch Script, a typeface based on Caflisch’s calligraphy.

His restrained classical approach to typography and design have won him numerous international awards and his knowledge of the history of letter writing and type-design have made him a recognized world authority.