ISTD Members

Education is a constant in ISTD. From our beginnings as the British Typographers Guild in 1928, education has been a fundamental part of our activity.

Education activities in the Society are coordinated by the Education Team, led by Education Director, Professor John McMillan. The team comprises educators and practicing designers who reflect our international activity with members from Australia, continental Europe, Ireland, Lebanon, South Africa and United Kingdom.

Our main education activity is the annual Student Assessment that, since 1975, has offered students the opportunity to gain ISTD membership. Now running in England, Ireland, Middle East, South Africa and Australasia, it attracts submissions from around the world.

In fact, the ratio of members entering through the Assessment grows by the year. The significance of this cannot be under-estimated as each annual cohort of young designers is a source of energy and ideas that we value in the future of the society.

While the team co-ordinate our education activities, we hope that the Members’ Area will afford members from across the world the opportunity to offer suggestions or observations that will help improve our education work. Experience of teaching methods, assessment, essential knowledge, skills and how these relate to preparation for professional practice or research are valuable to us. Using this area as a forum will benefit our future work.

Institutional Membership is proving popular with universities and colleges around the world. In addition to the 20% discount on registration fees for our annual Student Assessments, access to examples of successful work from the ISTD Student Archive give useful case studies of research and development and outcomes - valuable teaching resources that inspire and give insights to what we look for.