Eminents observed: a century of writing, lettering, type and typography at the Central School, London
- Submitting institution
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The University of Reading
: B - Typography and Graphic Communication
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory : B - Typography and Graphic Communication
- Output identifier
- 66607
- Type
- C - Chapter in book
- DOI
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- Book title
- Typeform Dialogues (2nd edition)
- Publisher
- Hyphen Press
- ISBN
- 9780907259527
- Open access status
- -
- Month of publication
- -
- Year of publication
- 2018
- URL
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- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
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- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
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- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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0
- Research group(s)
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- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- This output surveys teachers of formal writing, lettering, type and typography at the Central School, London, from its early years until the 1990s. Featured individuals include Emery Walker, W. R. Lethaby, Edward Johnston, J. H. Mason, Graily Hewitt, Nicolete Gray and Nicholas Biddulph. The output constructs a continuous ‘lineage’ of teaching in these areas, by these individuals, in part through the consideration, analysis and interpretation of the ‘forms’ this teaching took, whether as illustrated lectures, published works, graphic and typographic practice, or as an archive of exemplars.
In addition to its historical concerns, the output provides context for the ‘Typeform dialogues’ CD interactive interface (presented elsewhere in the document), whose editorial conception and design was informed by the lineage and tradition of teaching the output addresses. The output demonstrates a synthesis of individual narratives into a longer narrative arc, its discussion and analysis of teaching content and outlook, its identification of the meaningful form and structure given to this teaching, and in positioning the ‘Typeform dialogues’ CD interface relative to its predecessors.
The output provides a synoptic account of teaching and thinking in formal writing, lettering, type and typography among notable individuals at this important institution, and a case study of how past concerns can inform present day (1990s) editorial and design practice in a different (digital) medium. Rigour is demonstrated through the judicious use of textual evidence and in the analysis and interpretation of teaching strategy, content, structure and presentation.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
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