Professor Michael Twyman

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The late Professor Michael Twyman smiles at an 80th birthday celebration for his colleague James Mosley in 2015. Photograph by Paul Luna.
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Published: 2025-12-23
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34314/wfcys659

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Sue Walker
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Abstract

Professor Michael Twyman, who has died aged 91, pioneered the study of typography as an academic discipline in a British university. His vision for the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication at the University of Reading intertwined history, theory and practice in graphic design, typeface design, information design and book design. It was innovative in its interdisciplinarity, drawing on linguistics, psychology, social and economic history and other social sciences and humanities to address ‘design for reading’.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 3 (2025): Student Research Special Issue (December 2025)

Section

Invited Article

Author Biography

Sue Walker, University of Reading

Sue Walker is Professor of Typography at the University of Reading. She became Head of the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication when Michael retired in 1998 before assuming other leadership roles at Reading. She undertakes research in information design and health communication, and Marie Neurath’s Isotype books for children.

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