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.
* THE FESTIVAL OF BOOKBINDING 2022*
Designer Bookbinders and The Bodleian Library proudly presented a Festival of Bookbinding on 8th & 9th July 2022. The Festival brought together lectures, demonstrations, practical bookbinding sessions, mini demonstrations and a trade stand to help celebrate the opening of the exhibition “A Gathering of Leaves – the 4th Designer Bookbinders International Competition 2022”.
All the events that were put on were very well attended and we really enjoyed having the opportunity of sharing different aspects of bookbinding with everyone. Thank you to all that made it along!
The lectures included:
* “British Bookbinding – Past, present and future” by Fellow Kate Holland
* “Gathering Leaves – some approaches to bookbinding in recent accessions to the Bodleian Library” by Andrew Honey, a book conservator at The Bodleian
* “To bind, or not to bind” by Edward Bayntun-Coward from George Bayntun
And the demonstrations were:
* “Vellum Over Boards” by Fellow Glenn Bartley, Head of the Royal Bindery at Windsor Castle
* “Minimalist Flat-Tight Back Binding” by Fellow Mark Cockram
* “An Introduction to Decorative Techniques in Contemporary Bookbinding” by Fellow Glenn Malkin
There were also some mini-demonstrations:
* "Gold Finishing" by Fellow Stuart Brockman
* "Marbling Techniques" by Louise Brockman
* "Forwarding techniques and the principles of book structure" by Licentiate Ted Bennett
* "Paper boxes for bindings" by Fellow Lori Sauer
@db.int.bookbinding.competition
#bookbinding #festivalofbookbinding #designerbookbinders #designerbookbindersuk
* A GATHERING OF LEAVES: DISTINGUISHED WINNERS *
We are delighted to now share images of the rest of the winning bindings in the 4th Annual Designer Bookbinders Competition 2022: “A Gathering of Leaves". Twenty five binders were awarded Silver trophies and announced as Distinguished winners at the awards ceremony at the Bodleian in Oxford on the 6th July.
GILLIAN STEWART (UK)
@juju.books
The Journey of Thomas the Rhymer, illustrations by Angela Lemaire. The Old Stile Press, Monmouthshire, 2001.
DANIEL SZLACHTOWSKI (POLAND)
Basilius Besler Florilegium by Klaus Walter Littger, illustrations by Werner Dressendörfer. Taschen, Cologne, 2016.
DANIEL WRAY (UK)
@dan.wray.169
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrations by Charles Robinson. William Heinemann, London, 1911.
HAEIN SONG (UK)
@haeinsong_
The Botanical City by Hélèna Dove and Harry Adès, botanical illustrations from Flora Londinensis by various artists, Hoxton Mini Press, London, 2020.
THERESA WEDEMEYER (GERMANY)
@buchobjekt
I BM G III – Der Sündenfall by Theresa Wedemeyer, illustrated by Theresa Wedemeyer. Münster, 2020.
For a full list of all the winning bindings please visit the Designer Bookbinders website, and we'll also be bringing you images of each of these bindings over the next few days on our social media channels.
All of the winning bindings, plus other selected books, will form part of a touring exhibition at the following venues and dates:
WESTON LIBRARY, Bodleian Libraries
(@bodleianlibraries)
7 July – 11 September 22
SOTHEBY’S, LONDON
(@sothebys)
21 – 29 September 22
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
(@edinburghuniversity)
4 Nov 22 – 25 Feb 23
@db.int.bookbinding.competition
#designerbookbinders #designerbookbindersinternationalcompetition #festivalofbookbinding #bookbindingprizes #finebindings #leatherbindings #designbindings #boundbythebest
* A GATHERING OF LEAVES: DISTINGUISHED WINNERS *
We are delighted to now share images of the rest of the winning bindings in the 4th Annual Designer Bookbinders Competition 2022: “A Gathering of Leaves". Twenty five binders were awarded Silver trophies and announced as Distinguished winners at the awards ceremony at the Bodleian in Oxford on the 6th July.
GRAHAM PATTEN (USA)
@grahampattenbinder
Between Earth and Sky: Our Intimate Connections to Trees by Nalini Nadkarni. University of California Press, Berkeley, 2008.
MIGUEL PEREZ FERNANDEZ (SPAIN)
@retrincos.encuadernacion
Los jardines más bellos de España, Cultural, Madrid, 2004.
SOL REBORA (ARGENTINA)
@solrebora
Flowers of August by William Carlos Williams, illustrations by Keith Achepol. Windhover Press, Iowa, 1983.
ELENA SÀNCHEZ (SPAIN)
@elenasanchezmiguel
The Alphabet of Plants by Karl Blossfeldt, Neues, New York, 1997.
For a full list of all the winning bindings please visit the Designer Bookbinders website, and we'll also be bringing you images of each of these bindings over the next few days on our social media channels.
All of the winning bindings, plus other selected books, will form part of a touring exhibition at the following venues and dates:
WESTON LIBRARY, Bodleian Libraries
(@bodleianlibraries)
7 July – 11 September 22
SOTHEBY’S, LONDON
(@sothebys)
21 – 29 September 22
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
(@edinburghuniversity)
4 Nov 22 – 25 Feb 23
@db.int.bookbinding.competition
#designerbookbinders #designerbookbindersinternationalcompetition #festivalofbookbinding #bookbindingprizes #finebindings #leatherbindings #designbindings #boundbythebest
