Karl Peglau

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Karl Peglau
Born18 May 1927
Muskau, Weimar Republic
Died29 November 2009 (2009-11-30) (aged 82)
Berlin, Germany
Occupation(s)Traffic psychologist and engineer

Karl Peglau (18 May 1927 – 29 November 2009) was a German

traffic lights.[1]

Peglau wanted to create a traffic light that would be both appealing to children, yet easily accessible and understandable for elderly Germans.[1] He deliberately designed the human figures, known as the Ampelmännchen, to be both creative and "cute".[1]

The

chic.[2]

In 1997, the

German government attempted to replace the Ampelmännchen used in the former East Germany with the slighter, more generic version used in the former West Germany.[2] A campaign, called Save the Ampelmännchen, was launched by supporters, which successfully preserved Peglau's Ampelmännchen in the East.[2]

Biography

Early life

Karl Peglau was born in the town of Muskau, Upper Lusatia in 1927.[3] He trained and studied in both engineering and psychology[4] at Humboldt University of Berlin.

Ampelmännchen in East Germany

The green and red Ampelmännchen, designed by Peglau

By the early 1960s, traffic lights in the former

pedestrians.[1] The 1930s-era traffic lights could not cope with the increased traffic, leading to a sharp rise in accidents and fatalities.[4]

In the early 1960s, an

commission asked Peglau to create a new traffic light design in order to decrease the number of traffic accidents in the city.[4] Peglau concluded that both vehicle and pedestrian traffic could be better managed if he created a completely different traffic signal.[4]

Peglau designed the glass human figures for the stop (red) and go (green) lights on the traffic signal in 1961, which became known as the Ampelmännchen.[4] Peglau deliberately designed the Ampelmännchen to be both friendly and approachable, which increased their popularity with East Germans.[4] The figures were created with easy-going stances, hats, "button noses" and "stocky builds".[4] Peglau described the Ampelmännchen's features as having the ability to project "an aura of coziness and human warmth".[4]

Peglau also designed the Ampelmännchen to be more effective and practical than the previous 1930s-era signals.[4] The green Ampelmännchen's stance resembled an arrow, while the red Ampelmännchen, with his outstretched arms,[3] looks similar to a barricade.[4] The large Ampelmännchen symbols made them easier to see in poor weather.[4]

Peglau's Ampelmännchen spread beyond East Berlin and became common throughout East Germany by the 1980s.

safety.[4]

Reunification and later years

After

German reunification in 1990, the German authorities began to gradually phase out Paglau's iconic Ampelmännchen in favour of a slimmer signal used in the former West Germany.[4] A German designer, Markus Heckhausen, began to collect the old Ampelmännchen, which had been replaced by the authorities.[4] Heckhausen turned the old Ampelmännchen figures into lamps and fashion accessories.[4] A campaign, called Save the Ampelmännchen, was launched by the public and Ampelmännchen enthusiasts, resulting in the preservation of Peglau's Ampelmännchen in 1997.[2][4]

Ampelmännchen shop in Berlin, with products based on Peglau's original designs

In 1996, Heckhausen won the

T-shirts and bags, out of his traffic safety ideas.[4]

Peglau spent nearly 20 years following the

traffic safety plans throughout his career.[3] For example, Peglau proposed that the red, yellow and green lights each be assigned a different shape.[4]

As of late 2009, Peglau's Ampelmännchen can still be found throughout secondary road and intersections within the former East Germany.[4] His symbols have also been adopted by some former West German cities as well.[4]

Karl Peglau died in Berlin, Germany, on 29 November 2009, at the age of 82.[3][4] He was survived by his wife, Hildegard, and their two children.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "East German Loses Copyright Battle over Beloved Traffic Symbol". Deutsche Welle. 17 June 2006. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Ampelmännchen is Still Going Places". Deutsche Welle. 16 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Karl Peglau, inventor of Berlin's famous Ampelmann, dies aged 82". Monsters and Critics. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  4. ^
    German Missions in the United States. 1 December 2009. Archived from the original
    on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2010.

External links
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