They determined the destiny of the Fischer enterprise for many years: Josef Fischer, son of the company founder; Ernest Simharl, who was instrumental in the commercial and organizational aspects of the business, along with his public relations work; and designer Professor Rudolf Ferch. Following Josef Fischer’s death in the summer of 2020, now the death of Rudolf Ferch at the venerable age of 92, who not only created the Fischer triangle but also the legendary C4 ski, marks the final passing of what was known as the “Fischer triumvirate”.
In 1955, after returning to his homeland and graduating from of the Linz School of Arts, and the College of Applied Arts in Vienna, he joined Fischer as a designer. In 1958 he created the new company logo, the Fischer triangle. This went on to become one of the most well-known brand identifiers in Austria, with a worldwide reach, as well. “At that time, the nostalgic Fischer logo was a triangular shape on which there was a four color print with the Matterhorn, blue sky, a skier, and ‘Fischer Skis’ in runic font. We were looking for a simpler symbol, easily replicated, and suitable for stamping and pressing,” explained Rudolf Ferch in an interview on the occasion of the firm’s 90 year anniversary celebration in 2014. Therefore he suggested the clean equilateral triangle as the new Fischer logo, which still today proudly announces the brand’s global presence.
Rudolf Ferch is not just the creator of the Fischer triangle, he also created the legendary C4 ski, among other innovations. With understandable pride he looked back on its introduction during the interview. For him, it “was one of the highlights of the company history. It was the successful interplay of a fantastic ski with the name C4 and its new, defining Fischer visual together with Franz Klammer to generate an extremely high level of admiration.”
Even though Rudolf Ferch has left us, his lofty achievements have made an indelible mark on the history of Fischer.
