ABOUT
Designer Bookbinders is one of the foremost societies devoted to the craft of Contemporary bookbinding. Founded more than fifty years ago, our Society is a registered charity and has helped to establish the reputation of British bookbinding worldwide by means of events, education, exhibitions and publications.
Our membership includes some of the most highly regarded creators in the fields of fine bookbinding, book arts and artists’ books, each with a passion for presenting the bound text as a unique art object. Inspiration is the book in all its aspects – text, structure, illustration, print and paper – and the completed bindings are as diverse as the individuals who create them.
Become A Member
Designer Bookbinders Associate membership is open to subscribers worldwide. We welcome new members from all backgrounds – binders, conservators, collectors, librarians, teachers, people from other crafts, and book lovers in general. Learn more about becoming a member of Designer Bookbinders.
World Leaders In Our Craft
Designer Bookbinders Fellows are elected on submission of work, and are considered to have achieved the highest standards in both design and technique. Licentiates are elected on submission of work which is deemed to display a potential in design and technique likely to commend them as candidates for election to Fellowship within five years. The society is constantly seeking new talent, and promising bookbinders are encouraged to apply first for Licentiateship and then for Fellowship.
Learn Bookbinding Excellence From Craft Masters
Whether you’re a bookbinding beginner or an advanced artist, our regular masterclasses and workshops can help you to take the next steps in improving your craft. If you are based in the UK, when you are ready you could consider applying for Licentiateship.
* MEET THE NEW LICENTIATES MONDAY! *
Following on from our successful "Fellows Friday Feature" over the course of 2021, Designer Bookbinders are pleased to bring you this new feature. Taking place over the next four weeks we are really pleased to formally announce our new Licentiates to you all.
Licentiates are elected on submission of work which is deemed to display potential in design and technique likely to commend them as candidates for election to Fellowship within five years. During this period, two mentors are assigned, and tutorials and consultations are made available. Their work may also be shown in the society’s exhibitions. The society is constantly seeking new talent, and promising bookbinders are encouraged to apply first for Licentiateship and then for Fellowship.
We are continuing the feature with Miranda Kemp (@kemp.miranda). Miranda graduated from Oxford Polytechnic with a degree in Visual Studies & History of Art, during which she was first introduced to bookbinding. After a short career in visual merchandising and a much longer career teaching art to children, Miranda came back to bookbinding.
She has been a student at Studio 5 with Mark Cockram for many years. Miranda is also a keen printmaker using a variety of printing methods including etching, linocut and monotype. She uses her prints for endpapers, book covering and artists’ books.
She has won several prizes for her books. Miranda’s bindings are held in several private collections and also at the British Library. She now spends her time working on fine bindings for competitions and commissions.
Here we share some of Miranda's work:
- "Tulipomania" by Wilfred Blunt
King Penguin Books
- "Twelve Months in Print" by Miranda Kemp
- "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck
Folio Society
- "Four Hedges"
- "Botanical Sketchbook"s by Helen & William Bynun
Thames and Hudson
- "The Observer’s Book of Wild Flowers" Compiled by W.J Stokoe
Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd
#bookbinding #designerbookbinders #meetthenewlicentiatesmonday #licentiate #workofabookbinder #designbindings #finebindings #leatherbindings #bookstagram #bookcollector #reliuredart #reliure #craftsperson #bookbinder #books
Last weekend Designer Bookbinders hosted a series of workshops, led by Fellows of the Society, at the wonderful Cockpit Arts venue in Holborn, central London for London Craft Week.
The four workshops were taught by Fellows Rachel Ward-Sale, Midori Kunikata-Cockram and Kaori Maki on subjects ranging from soft leather journals, concertina bindings, hard-covered sketchbooks and soft slip-cases.
Participants rediscovered the joys of making with their hands and engaged with the ultimate portable technology – the book. The workshops introduced students to the skills, techniques, and materials used in basic bookbinding with all materials and tools provided.
#designerbookbinders #learnbookbinding #londoncraftweek #londoncraftweek2022 #bookbinding #lcw2022 #finebindings #designbindings #reliure #reliuredart #bookcollector #bookstagram
@londoncraftweek @cockpitstudios @rachelward_sale @kaorimakibookbinder
* MEET THE NEW LICENTIATES MONDAY! *
Following on from our successful "Fellows Friday Feature" over the course of 2021, Designer Bookbinders are pleased to bring you this new feature. Taking place over the next four weeks we are really pleased to formally announce our new Licentiates to you all.
Licentiates are elected on submission of work which is deemed to display potential in design and technique likely to commend them as candidates for election to Fellowship within five years. During this period, two mentors are assigned, and tutorials and consultations are made available. Their work may also be shown in the society’s exhibitions. The society is constantly seeking new talent, and promising bookbinders are encouraged to apply first for Licentiateship and then for Fellowship.
We are continuing the feature with Laura Jamieson (@laura_jamieson_). Laura studied Graphic Design at Chelsea School of Art and worked as a designer in branding and corporate identity in London. Laura was introduced to bookbinding in 2016, attending various courses including those at City Lit with Kathy Abbott and Mark Cockram at Studio 5.
Here we share some of Laura's work:
- "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck
Illustrated by James Albon
The Folio Society, London 2018
144mm x 222mm
Bound in 2020
- "Snow Goose" by Paul Gallico
Illustrated by Peter Scott
Michael Joseph, 1947
195mm x 250mm
Bound in 2020
- "Pinewoods of the Black Mount" by Peter Wormell
Illustrated by Christopher Wormell
Dalesman, 2003
180mm x 237mm
Bound in 2021
- "Everything but Thee and Me" by Ogden Nash
Illustrated by John Alcorn
JM Dent & Sons, 1962
187mm x 128mm
Bound in 2019
#bookbinding #designerbookbinders #meetthenewlicentiatesmonday #licentiate #workofabookbinder #designbindings #finebindings #leatherbindings #bookstagram #bookcollector #reliuredart #reliure #craftsperson #bookbinder #books #goldtooling #designerbookbindersuk #onlays #inlays
