Born in Basel in 1929, Gérard Ifert studied graphic design then moved to Paris in 1949. He began his career designing touring exhibitions for the Marshall Plan, under the direction of architect Peter G. Harnden. After working for the American Cultural Center in Paris and the Geigy laboratories in Basel, he founded his own graphic design studio in 1960. His work was then exclusively oriented towards the cultural milieu, leading him to work with numerous institutions: museums, art houses, and notably the Centre Pompidou.

Ifert then developed the idea of an interaction between photography, graphic design, design, and exhibition scenography, which he later taught at many schools including the University of Cincinnati and the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.