For centuries printing in Britain had been a male dominated industry routed in technology that had changed little since Gutenburg’s lifetime. This status altered in the early 1900s, when advancements were made, and a woman invigorated the industry. This individual was Beatrice Warde, who through her expertise and connections to leading figures from the industry, art, culture and politics, became one of the most influential figures in printing and publishing. Her ideas continue to resonate in the twenty first-century, with one of her works acclaimed as ‘the single most famous pronouncement on type’, whilst another has been republished online by the French Ministry of Culture.

This talk introduces Beatrice Warde, also known as the First Lady of Typography, giving an overview of her life, works and influence.

Dr Jessica Glaser is a Graphic Designer, writer, educator and Honorary Research Fellow at Wolverhampton School of Art, part of the University of Wolverhampton.