Research & Archive Access
Design Reviewed is an independent graphic design archive based in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
The collection contains more than 11,000 examples of printed graphic design spanning 150 years, with material relating to designers, publications and visual cultures from around the world.
The online archive is free to explore, but researchers, educators, publishers, students, curators and other organisations are also welcome to contact Design Reviewed about material held within the physical collection.
Research Enquiries
If you are researching a particular designer, publication, period, country or area of graphic design history, Design Reviewed may hold material relevant to your work.
Not everything within the physical archive has yet been documented online.
Research enquiries are therefore welcome where the collection may provide material unavailable through the public website.
When contacting the archive, please include as much information as possible about the subject of your research and the material you are looking for.
Academic Research
Design Reviewed supports students and researchers working across graphic design history, visual communication, typography, publishing, advertising and related fields.
Material from the archive has been referenced in academic papers and postgraduate research, while Design Reviewed has also been recommended through university teaching and library resources.
Researchers are welcome to enquire about specific objects or groups of material held within the collection.
Archive Visits
The physical Design Reviewed archive is based in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Research visits may be possible by prior arrangement depending on the nature of the project, material required and availability.
Please contact Design Reviewed before travelling, outlining your research and the material you would like to consult.
Education
Objects from the archive are regularly used within lectures, workshops and teaching.
Sessions can be developed around particular periods, designers, movements or subjects and can take place in person or remotely.
Design Reviewed has worked with students and professionals internationally, using original graphic design artefacts as the starting point for discussion and research.
Publishing & Editorial Research
Publishers, writers and editors are welcome to contact Design Reviewed regarding material that may support books, magazines, articles and other editorial projects.
Enquiries can relate to individual objects, designers or larger groups of material within the collection.
Exhibitions & Institutional Collaborations
Design Reviewed welcomes conversations with museums, galleries, universities and cultural organisations interested in using the archive for exhibitions, events, teaching or research.
Previous collaborations have demonstrated how original objects from the collection can be used to introduce audiences to graphic design history beyond the screen.
Loans
Requests to borrow material for exhibitions or institutional projects will be considered individually.
Any potential loan will depend on the condition and rarity of the material, duration, transport, security, insurance and environmental requirements.
Please provide details of the institution, project, proposed dates and objects of interest when making an initial enquiry.
Image & Reproduction Enquiries
Design Reviewed can help identify and provide information about material within the collection.
Holding a physical object does not necessarily mean that Design Reviewed owns the copyright or reproduction rights associated with it.
Image and reproduction requests will therefore be considered individually, and third-party permission may be required.
Contact the Archive
For research, education, publishing, exhibition or archive enquiries, please get in touch.
Please include:
- Your name and organisation or institution, where relevant
- The purpose of your research
- The designer, publication or material you are interested in
- Relevant deadlines
- Links to individual Design Reviewed records where possible
