01.3 / By way of a CV

A Statement

Loosely educated as an undergraduate at Norwich School of Art; Mr Smith began what he terms as his ‘Professional Apprenticeship’ with Maestro Letterpress ArtistAlan Kitching (RDI), at ‘The Typography Workshop’, Clerkenwell, London. There he worked as a typographer & letterpress designer — with specific attention to detail in hand-set typographic composition, structural layout & press work.

At a young age began visiting Art Schools and Universities teaching Graphic Design & Typography at Middlesex; Colchester; Brighton; Maidstone; Westminster; Northumbria & London Metropolitan.

This culminated in becoming a Research Associate in Typography at Middlesex University & Course director of the BA in Typo/Graphic Design at London College of Printing.

Since 2007 Mr Smith has conceded all Academic positions to concentrate on ventures in research, publishing & professional practice.

In 2017 Mr Smith & Alan Kitching formed The New Typography Workshop in Kennington — a new – hands-on school of design & typography with letterpress at its core. Offering art directors, artists, designers, printmakers & students the opportunity to study typography & work closely with wood letter & metal type, letterpress materials & printing equipment.

In 2021 — Smith’s Rules & The New Typography Workshop were combined & reconfigured in Bruton, Somerset.

1.3 / some details

a sense of place . . .

i’ve always been interested in where i am & what i’m doing there / to some extent i have defined my life through a sense of place as much as through a sense of people //

academics say that ‘place’ is at the centre of a combination of criteria — a core of ‘activity & form & image’ (imagination)

activity brings:
diversity / vitality / street life / people watching / cafe culture / events & local tradition / past times / flow / opening hours / attractors

form brings:
scale intensity / permeability / landmarks / land (space) to building ratios / stock / public realm / spacial systems

image (cognition perception & information) brings:
symbolism & memory / imageability & legibility / sensory experience / knowledgeability / receptivity / psychological access / cosmopolitan sophistication / fear

“be present
in your own life /
in your own place

be alert to the actual world around you /
know where you are /
be able to describe it
& savour it
& if you can’t savour it
& you don’t even like it /

change it . . .

don’t tune it out /
don’t turn to a screen /
to a pseudo world /

we need to help create
the world in which we want to live . . .
the society in which we want to live . . .
the culture in which we want to live”

Dana Gioia — poet

born / London

Monday 8 April 1968 (19:45)
Central Middlesex Hospital
Lived in Cedar Road / Cricklewood

grew up / Margate

Lived in 301 Canterbury Road / Garlinge/Westgate

1972 — 1979
Garlinge Infants & Juniors

1979 — 1984
Hartsdown Secondary Modern

1984 — 1986
Dane Court Grammar

art school / Norwich

1986 — 1987
Maidstone College of Art
(Foundation)

1987 — 1990
Norwich School of Art
(BA Hons Graphic Design)

apprenticeship / Clerkenwell

1991 — 1995
Apprentice to Alan Kitching (RDI)
at The Typography Workshop / Clerkenwell

1990 — 1992
Assistant to Phil Abel
at Hand & Eye Letterpress / London

1989 — 1994
Freelance graphic designer for:
Economist magazine /
Faber & Faber /
Bostock & Pollitt /

masters / Brighton

1993 — 1995
University of Brighton
(MA Sequential & Narrative Design)

teaching / London +

1993 — 1998
First year tutor in Typography
Visual Communication Design BA (Hons)
Middlesex University

1993 — 1995
First year tutor
Typography + Graphic Design BA (Hons)
Colchester Institute

1996 — 1998
Second year tutor
Typography + Graphic Design BA (Hons)
Visual Communications Design
Kent Institute of Art and Design Maidstone

1996 — 1997
Second year tutor
Typography + Graphic Design BA (Hons)
University of Brighton

1999 — 2001
Research Associate in Typography & Letterpress
Visual Communication Design
Middlesex University

(Three-year research position cultivating the culture of research in the visual communications department at the university.)

2000 — 2001
Second year tutor Information Design
at London College of Printing (Communication)
London Institute

2001 — 2006
Area of Study Course Leader
Typo/Graphic Design BA (Hons)
at London College of Printing
(now London College of Communication)

2002 — 2004
Visiting Senior lecturer
MA Typo/Graphic Design
London College of Communication

2006 — 2007
Visiting tutor
Northumbria University
London Metropolitan University

studio / Limehouse

1995 — 2001
The Typographic Studio of Mr Smith
Typography & Information & Exhibition Design

1999 — 2000
Consultant typographer with Imagination Ltd.
Overseeing graphic information system for the BT TalkZone at the Millennium Dome

workshop / Old Street & Kennington

2006 — 2010
Mr Smith’s Letterpress Workshop / Old Street
Typography & Letterpress Design practice

2010 — 2018
Mr Smith’s Letterpress Workshop / Walworth & Kennington
Typography & Letterpress Design practice

2018 — 2021
The New Typography Workshop / Walworth & Kennington
School of Typography & Letterpress

practice / Somerset

2018 — 2023
Smith’s Rules / Bruton — Somerset
Art / Design & Letterpress Printmaking practice

Contact

Smith’s Rules

Unit 5 / Riverside
Station Road Industrial Estate
Bruton / Somerset BA10 0EH

Kelvyn Laurence Smith
mrsmith@smithsrules.com

01749 705  574
07866 258 171

We at right at the end of the Station Road Industrial Estate — (over the bumps) & down to the left — follow the signs to ‘Riverside’. You can park outside the unit.