Icograda chooses Brighton

The world's leading forum for graphic designers has chosen the Design History Research Centre (DHRC) at the University of Brighton to be the central location for its archives. The archives of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) are currently scattered around several institutions, including the Design Museum in London. The decision will bring together the work of key figures in Icograda such as its first president Willy de Mayo, who designed for the Festival of Britain; the Dutch designer and typographer Wim Crouwel and FHK Henrion, who is regarded as one of the last century's most important designers.

The FHK Henrion archives and Research Library are already housed at the DHRC. The University's 2001 Christmas card featured one of Henrion's card designs, which are found in the archive. Thierry Van Kerm, director of the Icograda Secretariat in Brussels, and a steering group overseeing the Icograda collection, have visited the DHRC's archives and were impressed by the digital and intellectual developments around its key holdings, which include those of the Design Council. The DHRC promotes research in the form of publications, exhibitions, seminars, and a wide range of projects from investigations into teaching and learning practice to artist residencies.

The decision to centralise the archives at the DHRC also follows a recent Government assessment of the Faculty's research work as being world class. Professor Jonathan Woodham, director of the DHRC, said: 'Icograda's work and activity includes most of the leading graphic artists of the past 50 years. The archive will also include 25 years worth of international exhibition material. The council's decision to place the archive here coincided with confirmation of the international research standing of the faculty's work .’