Output details
34 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
University of Northampton
Love British Books
The research outputs have captured/articulated the British contribution to book production and the role of the practitioner in developing a fertile ground for the flourishing “book arts”. This research engages with two countries whose communist governments curtailed exposure to outside creative cultures. This research is original and significant because it has introduced ‘leading-edge’ British-book design to Armenia on the 500th anniversary of their first printed book and UNESCO’s endorsement of Yerevan as the International Book Capital 2012. This success prompted an invitation from Albania to provide the 2013 exhibition supported by the British Council and Embassy, to provide the lead contribution to the Tirana International Book Fair, 2013.
The research rigour is through the selection of 150 books which articulate a clear narrative of contemporary, leading-edge UK practice. The location of exemplar books, together with interviews/collaborations with practitioners have supported the emerging research narrative/discourse which has been articulated through the ‘exhibition interactions’, and structured conversations/interventions with British/Armenian/Albanian practitioners. The discourse legacy has stimulated substantial in-country and UK scholarly interest.
Through the PI’s curation, the discourse articulates the divergent/innovative nature of British book production, providing a novel platform from which to disseminate design/production thinking to unique cultures. The ‘platform’ is positioned within an environment disconnected from the broader evolution of book design/production, thus stimulating and gathering new and unique insights through a ‘discourse legacy’ providing value for Albanian/Armenian/UK practitioners and beyond.
The PI initiated/framed the research question, call for submissions, co-curated the selection of books, carried out interviews/conversations with practitioners, supported/managed the emerging research discourse. The distinct co-author contributions: the PI led on visual language/print aspects, whilst Puzzovio C has directed typographic/book construction elements. These complementary knowledge sets have defined the research.
The outputs are grouped because each ‘breath out and in’ forming the emerging discourse through the dissemination/gathering of information.
