Inspiring students from Leeds Beckett University

Last month (March 2022), I spoke to over fifty Graphic Design undergraduates about the archive and my passion for design history, after which the students had full access to items in the collection and participated in discourse amongst their peers and lecturers. As part of their critical studies unit, the students will be producing essays and content related to the impact, history and aesthetics of selected artefacts.

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As part of an ongoing partnership with Leeds Beckett University our creative director, I have been delivering a range of inspirational workshops using my archive of graphic design history.

Last month (March 2022), I spoke to over fifty Graphic Design undergraduates about the archive and my passion for design history, after which the students had full access to items in the collection and participated in discourse amongst their peers and lecturers. As part of their critical studies unit, the students will be producing essays and content related to the impact, history and aesthetics of selected artefacts.

 Leeds Beckett University students utilising the design archive
Leeds Beckett University students utilising the design archive

The design archive houses over 4,000 artefacts from around the world with items spanning over a century of design history. The collection has been collected for over a decade and remains an important resource for the documentation and preservation of design history.

 Leeds Beckett University students utilising the design archive
Leeds Beckett University students utilising the design archive
 Leeds Beckett University students utilising the design archive
Leeds Beckett University students utilising the design archive

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The book "Modern Man In The Making" (1939), is a fantastic example of Neurath's work. The book uses Isotype's principles with text to illustrate complex societal issues like globalisation and war's impact on economies, prioritising visual recognition through symbols to aid in memorability—a philosophy that remains paramount in design today.

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This 1,500 word essay focused on the work of Jan Bons. One of the most prominent figures in Dutch design history. For over three-quarters of a century, he crafted a mass of work with many long-time collaborators.

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The collection of works I've gathered, designed for Olympia-Werke, showcases the height of mid-century German commercial artistry. The work was collated in a branded folder and contained forty brochures, advertisements and manuals.