Since it started life in 1837 as the Government School of Design, The Royal College of Art (RCA) has played a significant role in shaping the design landscape not only in the UK but across the world; from fine art to architecture and as the centre of the pop art explosion.

When the Graphic Design course opened in 1948, it signalled the beginning of a new era in the education of designers. Out went the old ideas of the ‘Commercial Artist’ and the ‘Poster Artist’, to be replaced by a new concept – the professional graphic designer.

In 1963 the first exhibition of graphic design by students at the Royal College of Art was held. Now the school’s latest exhibition, GraphicsRCA: Fifty Years’, will illustrate how, for the past half century, the RCA has been at the forefront of all major developments in graphic communication.

Such a milestone has called for something a little different. The designs for the exhibition are a collaboration between architects Studio Octopi, Royal College of Art (RCA) School of Communication students, aluminium fabricators and an interior design and build firm.

The initial student concept consisted of a series of display modules referencing equipment and furniture found in print studios. These designs have been developed to create a collection of repeated components that can easily be dismantled for shipping around the World. The exhibition will head overseas when its’ initial London run ends and includes a stint in Hong Kong.

With over a 100 posters to hang, all of varying sizes, the hangers are required to accommodate multiple display configurations. In addition to the posters, a substantial collection of bound materials, including books, magazines and pamphlets, will be showcased in display tables.

The details are repeated for both the hangers and the tables. The kit of parts consists of aluminium ‘connectors’ and oak ‘bars’. Using digital technology the aluminium connectors have all been water cut and then machine-finished.

The expressive aluminium joints are designed to expose the construction process of each item, but also so they could be manufactured in the short timeframe available.

The 45x45mm oak sections are a standard size and finished in a clear matt lacquer.

Stainless steel ‘sex bolts’ connect the elements and thumb-turn bolts clamp the timber hanging bars around the posters.

The exhibition features original, rarely seen works from the RCA archive, including designs made at the College by RCA alumni who have gone on to become leading practitioners.

These include John Pasche’s 1971 lips and tongue logo for the Rolling Stones, commissioned by Mick Jagger whilst Pasche was still a student.

Photography by Dominic Tschudin/RCA

RCA
rca.ac.uk