Istd - International Society of typographic designers

Erik Spiekermann, FISTD PPISTD

Erik Spiekermann was ISTD President 2002-05, succeeding the late Colin Banks. He is one of the best-known figures on the international typographic scene. A type designer, and typographic designer, he has built a solid reputation for high quality typography and original, sometimes acerbic, always entertaining, commentary on typographic life.

Now working as an independent design consultant, Spiekermann previously founded both the leading font marketing company FontShop and MetaDesign, a design group specialising in complex, often large, corporate design programmes and information systems. He is a member of the board of directors of the ATypI (Association Typographique Internationale), a member of the Type Directors Club New York, The Art Directors Club, an honorary member of the Typographic Circle London and D&AD. Among the other positions he holds, he is Vice-President of the German Design Council and President of the International Institute for Information Design (IIID). He holds an honorary professorship at the Academy of Arts in Bremen and teaches workshops at design schools across the world.

Andy Altmann, Why Not Associates

Andy Altmann graduated in graphic design from the Royal College of Art in 1987 and almost immediately formed the multi disciplinary design group Why Not Associates with fellow graduates David Ellis and Howard Greenhalgh. Located in London, Why Not Associates gained an international reputation based on a creative and experimental approach. In 18 years of experience they have worked on projects ranging from exhibition design to postage stamps via advertising, publishing, television titles, commercials and corporate identity. There clients include the Royal Academy of Arts,
Malcolm McClaren, Royal Mail, Nike, Paul Smith, Virgin records and Channel 4.

A book was published in 1998 by Booth-Clibborn editions documenting the first ten years of their work. A second was published in 2004 by Thames and Hudson which documented another five years. They still strive to push the boundaries of graphic design and more recent projects collaborating with artist Gordon Young have moved them into the world of public art.

Derek Birdsall

Derek Birdsall was born in Yorkshire in 1934, and attended Wakefield College of Art 1949-1952 followed by the Central School of Arts and Crafts until 1955, and began freelancing after National Service in 1957. Derek has designed for Penguin, Pirelli, Lotus Cars and Mobil Corporation. Since the 1970s he has specialized in magazine design, designing the first 'Independent' magazine in 1988; and book design from Monty Python to the 'Common Worship' for the Church of England, 2000; and his 'Notes on Book Design' published by Yale University Press, 2004. He has taught at the Central School, the Royal College of Art, Chelsea School of Art and the London School of Printing.