UKType has been working with the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design at Birmingham City University and has just launched The Typographic Hub, an exciting new initiative for research into the history, theory and practice of typographic design.

Historically, Birmingham is England’s typographic heart, home to luminaries such as William Caslon first grandée of English type design; John Baskerville creator of the world’s most well-known and enduring typeface; and Leonard Jay a teacher par excellence, who revolutionised 20th century typographic education.

It is Birmingham’s illustrious lineage that makes BCU the natural home to the Hub.

But the Hub is not simply concerned with Midlands’ type; it is interested in typography of all eras, from all nations and in all its guises. Research projects range from a new study of John Baskerville of Birmingham to London tart cards, Parisian underground graphics and Italian typographic modernism. The Hub welcomes doctoral research students from home and abroad who wish to study typography and its allied fields.

The Hub also maintains a specialist library, which is open to anyone with either an academic, professional or passing interest in typography, and its contents allow the study of all aspects of the cultural, practical and technical achievements of the industry. The library comprises more the 4,000 items of typographic interest including reference books, journals and periodicals, trade literature, items of printed ephemera and collections of special interest.

The typographic hub represents a significant development for all those within graphic communication and typography, said Professor Mario Minichiello, Head of Visual Communications at BCU, the Hub has an international appeal as it is a timely resource as a centre of discourse, research, debate and business activities. I would encourage all academics and practitioners in the field to be a part of the start of this and to contribute to the strength and depth of typographic practice and knowledge.

The work of the Hub is promoted through a publishing programme of popular and academic articles, which appear each week on its recently launched website www.typographichub.org, which was designed by BIAD alumni Supercool, Birmingham.

The Hub is celebrating is launch with a one-day international symposium scheduled for 16 March 2011. Speakers have been drawn from the USA, Europe, New Zealand and across the UK. Full details are available on the Hub website.