The Printing Charity expands bookbinding training initiative

A three-day workshop was run at the Lincoln College of Art and Design
A three-day workshop was run at the Lincoln College of Art and Design

The Printing Charity has expanded its training initiative with Designer Bookbinders to include a unit on codex bookbinding following a successful pilot.

Following initial sessions over the summer, a fresh three-day workshop was run at the Lincoln College of Art and Design, with 25 students from its art and design foundation diploma course attending, at the start of December.

During the workshop, the students produced a drum leaf miniature binding, which included work on text block, print, type, de-bossing, handwork, transfer, collage and machine sewing.

They followed this by making larger books and fanzines, looking at aspects such as paper engineering, typography and combination printing and bookmaking techniques.

Design Bookbinders trustee and honorary follow Jeanette Koch said: “The new codex unit created as part of the foundation course at Lincoln College of Art and Design is a very positive step as the students are learning about aspects of bookmaking at the start of their studies and creating work that shows great promise.”

Funded by the Printing Charity, the workshop concluded with all the students completing their own projects, bringing together the skills and techniques learnt over the previous two days. The students are now looking for venues to exhibit their work.

The scheme will continue to expand across the UK, with previous pilots taking place in Glasgow, Bath, Bristol and London. Printing Charity chief executive Neil Lovell stressed the courses' importance to “introduce heritage skills to a new generation”.