A new monograph developed by Giuseppe Oliveri as a Master’s thesis at the ISIA Urbino explores the life and work of Sergio Ruffolo (Cosenza, January 1, 1916 – Tivoli, December 26, 1989), a multifaceted creative figure who moved fluidly across the visual culture of 20th century Italy.

Designer, illustrator, painter and sculptor, Ruffolo contributed to shaping the visual identity of major Italian institutions and companies. Over the course of his career he developed communication projects for organizations such as RAI and Eni, while also collaborating with political organizations including the Italian Socialist Party. His work demonstrates a versatile approach to visual language, moving between graphic design, illustration, and artistic experimentation.

Yet Ruffolo’s story extends far beyond the studio. During the Second World War he joined the Italian resistance as a partisan. Captured by Nazi forces, he was imprisoned in Rome’s Via Tasso Prison, an experience that forms a powerful backdrop to his later creative production.

The monograph, titled Dal segno al movimento (“From Sign to Motion”), examines Ruffolo’s work through a design lens, focusing particularly on illustration, visual communication, and artistic practice. By combining visual analysis with historical research, the publication traces how the rigor of Ruffolo’s design thinking intersected with the profound human experiences that marked his life.

The publication uses the typefaces Softcore and Dioda by Tekio and 00 Wagram Mono by Doublezero.

Design and all the scans by Giuseppe Oliveri