He was born in Liestal, Switzerland and studied in Lucerne and Basel from 1940 to 1944 before moving to Milan, Italy, in 1947 to work in the Studio Boggeri, the leading and pioneering italian design office. The studio of Antonio Boggeri was a stepping stone for many important graphic designers, like Erberto Carboni, Xanty Schawinsky, Max Huber, Carlo Vivarelli, Franco Grignani, Giancarlo Iliprandi, Marcello Nizzoli, Bob Noorda, Albe Steiner, Heinz Waibl or Bruno Monguzzi. One of its clients was Olivetti, the italian typewriter company, and Walter Ballmer switched to work for Olivetti in 1956, where he designed posters and international advertising campaigns and exhibitions. His most famous work is the deceptively simple Olivetti logo, designed in 1970. In 1971, he established his own studio Unidesign, and had many italian and international clients.