International Council of Graphic Design Associations [ICOGRADA] Archive

Reference and contact details: GB 1837 DES ICO
Title:International Council of Graphic Design Associations [ICOGRADA] Archive
Dates of Creation: 1963 - [ongoing]
Held at: University of Brighton Design Archives
Extent: 145.11 linear metres of documentation and publications including c. 1500 posters and c.800 books and journals.
Language of Material: English, French, Spanish, German
Name of Creator: International Council of Graphic Design Associations
Level of Description: fonds

Administrative/Biographical History

The International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) has been the professional world body for graphic design and visual communication since it was founded in London in 1963 with Willy M de Majo as its first President. A voluntary grouping of more than seventy independent associations from forty-five countries, it has a strong educational remit and promotes the role of graphic design in both society and commerce.

As the world's non-governmental and non-political representative and advisory body for graphic design and visual communication, ICOGRADA serves the international community of graphic designers. Its aims have remained consistent since its foundation, it seeks to:

  • raise the standards of design, professional practice, and ethics
  • raise the professional status of the graphic designer
  • further the appreciation of designers' professional achievements
  • extend design's contribution to understanding among people
  • promote the exchange of information, views, and research
  • contribute to design education - theory, practice and research
  • coordinate matters of professional practice and conduct
  • establish international standards and procedures
  • hold congresses, conferences, seminars, and symposia
  • publish and distribute information concerned with graphic design.

The Icograda Executive Board comprises members nominated by the Member associations. The organisation is managed by a Secretariat which moved from Brussels to Montreal, Canada in 2005. Professional design organizations join Icograda as Full Members with voting rights. Promotional or technical organizations join as Associate Members with voting rights. Non-voting Members include: Patron Members, who contribute financially; Subscriber and Education Members, engaged in education, the raising of standards, or design research and practice; Corresponding Members, residing in a country not represented by a Member organization; and Affiliate Members, international organizations concerned with professional practice in fields related to graphic design.

ICOGRADA has consultative status with the Council of Europe; UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization); UNIDO (the United Nations Industrial Development Organization); and WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization). In 1999, Icograda was one of the founding members of Design for the World (DW), a non-profit multi-disciplinary organization formed to solve global social, humanitarian and habitat problems through design.

Scope and Content

The ICOGRADA archive comprises posters, library holdings, and a significant body of documentation relating to the administration of the organisation and its activities. The archive comprises four series:

1. Governance, Administration and Operations

This series amounts to 81 linear metres of papers relating to the foundation of the association, past presidents and the executive board, membership, committees, commissions and working groups, congresses, general assemblies, publications and newsletters, finance, awards, competitions, and education.

2. Library

The library numbers over 800 publications that were acquired by Secretariat. Books and journals amount to 22.5 linear metres.

3. Posters

Over 1500 posters from member countries, filed by country of origin

4. Visual Archive

13.5 linear metres of graphic work submitted to the publishers of the international annual 'Modern Publicity' (Studio Vista, London edited by Felix Gluck) and donated to ICOGRADA . It also includes original material from which slide sets were produced for the organisation's Audio/Visual Archive, based at Bolton Institute of Higher Education.

System of Arrangement

The collection is arranged in series, the library and poster collections are arranged by country of origin.

Custodial History

The material at Brighton derives from numerous sources including the Council's former Secretariat in Brussels as well as archival material located at the University of Reading and Bolton College of Art and Design.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

On 26 June 2003, Robert L. Peters, President of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations and Sir David Watson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, signed a formal agreement regarding the incorporation of the ICOGRADA Archive within the University Design Archives held by the Faculty of Arts and Architecture.

Access Conditions

Researchers wishing to consult the collection should make an appointment. 44 (0) 1273 643209 or email designarchives@brighton.ac.uk

Finding Aids

Listing on Filemaker database available for consultation at repository.

Related Units of Description

Design Council Archive, University of Brighton Design Archives; eight files with prefix 1874 relating to ICOGRADA , 1970-1977, and a further 1.6m of records on financial matters covering the period 1980-1987. The Design Council has been a member association since 1964.

FHK Henrion Archive, University of Brighton Design Archives; lectures, posters and publications (1963 - 1990). Henrion was President of ICOGRADA (1968-1970) and served as Past President (1970-1972), project director of the ICOGRADA/UNESCO slide project (1968), Chairman and programme organiser of ICOGRADA Student Seminar, London (1974-1985). ICOGRADA website: http://www.icograda.org/web

Processing Information

Collection arranged by Amira Driscoll and description compiled by Catherine Moriarty, July 2005