Ken Briggs was born in 1931 in Derbyshire, studied at Chesterfield School of Arts & Crafts and later at the Central School of Arts & Crafts in London, alongside notable designers like Ken Garland and Colin Forbes. After National Service, he worked briefly as a typographer at Everetts. In the late 1950s, Ken freelanced for clients like the Arts Council and Rathbone Books while teaching part-time. In the 1960s, he won the design contract for The National Theatre, where his use of photography and Letraset set the visual tone for its future designs.
Back to Methuselah, The National Theatre, London, 1969 designed by Ken Briggs and Susan Chennells
Ken Briggs was born in 1931 in Derbyshire, studied at Chesterfield School of Arts & Crafts and later at the Central School of Arts & Crafts in London, alongside notable designers like Ken Garland and Colin Forbes. After National Service, he worked briefly as a typographer at Everetts. In the late 1950s, Ken freelanced for clients like the Arts Council and Rathbone Books while teaching part-time. In the 1960s, he won the design contract for The National Theatre, where his use of photography and Letraset set the visual tone for its future designs.
He designed stamps from around 1955 and in the book Karl Oskar Blase, Briefmarken-Design, Verlag für Philatelistische Literatur, 1981, he was described as one of the most influential stamp designers in Germany.
Graphic design continues to be documented and an increase in individualised documentation and curated social media accounts are furthering our knowledge of design from a worldwide historic standpoint. I would not feel complete without the collected design that spans the shelves of my archive. It’s my identity, my passion and my hobby.
Gebrauchsgraphik 06, 1956 features a selection of the posters entered into the 1956 awards. It is unknown how many entries were submitted to the 1956 awards but a total of 21 posters were awarded.
My lectures and workshops also help bridge the gap between academia and industry. Through my lectures and collecting, I strive to promote design as a ever-changing dynamic industry that has the power to shape and improve the world we live in.
