This talk will delve into the legacies of the first Head of Birmingham School of Printing (BSP), Leonard Jay (1925-53) and the influence his direction has in contemporary typographic practice. An exhibition at Parkside Galleries, Birmingham City University in 2025 showcases the creative contributions of BCU staff, students, visiting professors, friends in industry and colleagues at other institutions in a group exhibition to celebrate the life and work of Jay.

This year we collectively celebrate the hundredth-year anniversary of the start of Jay’s tenure at the BSP. All contributions respond to archival material as a starting point to interpret and challenge historical conventions. The artefact is a letterpress booklet printed by the staff and students at the BSP and selected from the BSP collection at Birmingham City University archives. We will view the breath-taking work of the BSP and how the designers, artists, typographers, art directors, educators and students deconstructed and reconstructed conventions.

Dr Beck Howson is a designer, typographer and a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University.