Matt Lamont's Graphic Design Archive Expands to 10,000+ Items, Announces 400-Page Book with Unit Editions
In his Bradford studio, collector Matt Lamont has grown his graphic design collection to exceed 10,000 items, featuring more than 5,000 magazines, including complete runs of Idea and significant collections of Gebrauchsgraphik (1924–1990). A significant addition from Ken Briggs and Ian McLaren contributed over 300 pieces, with 250 posters from the 1960s and '70s. Lamont aims to address historical gaps by incorporating materials from South Africa, Iraq, and Japan. He meticulously catalogs his collection using high-resolution scans and contextual annotations. Over 8,000 items are accessible online, developed over five years. Additionally, he is collaborating with Unit Editions on a 400-page book spanning 1900–2000 and intends to enhance the online platform and pursue exhibitions by 2026.
Key facts
- Matt Lamont's archive contains over 10,000 artefacts, magazines, posters, books, and ephemera.
- The magazine collection exceeds 5,000 titles, documenting graphic design and related fields.
- A major acquisition included over 300 items linked to Ken Briggs and Ian McLaren, featuring 1960s-70s posters for the National Theatre.
- Lamont is working on a 400-page book with Unit Editions covering graphic design from 1900–2000.
- Over 8,000 artefacts are publicly accessible online through his website.
- The archive is housed in Lamont's shared studio space in Bradford.
- Lamont scans items at 600-1200dpi, processes them in Photoshop, and catalogs key information.
- For 2026, plans include expanding the online platform, continuing newsletter and translation projects, and exploring physical exhibitions.
Entities
Artists
- Matt Lamont
- Ken Briggs
- Ian McLaren
Institutions
- National Theatre
- Unit Editions
- Council of Industrial Design
- Barbican
- PRINT Magazine
Locations
- Bradford
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Iraq
- Japan