And We Thought Nobody Was Watching: Independent Australian Typographic Publishing 1988–2018

<p dir="ltr">The early 1990s saw an international flurry of independent publishing within the field of graphic design. Enabled by emerging digital technologies and catalysed by a design profession seeking to expand its creative control, many of these publications, such as Emigré and Eye, prompted vigorous debate with the design community. </p><p dir="ltr">In parallel with a global fascination with cultural ‘vernaculars’, the repositioning of ‘designer as author’ also had impacts and influences upon the Australian graphic design community of practice. Those specifically engaged in typographic practice embraced this opportunity to open channels of discourse, many of which broke through the familiar design community of practice and out into a wider, public discussion. </p><p dir="ltr">In addition to broadly mapping the many independent graphic design publications produced between 1988 and 2018, this paper will specifically focus upon the typographically-focussed publications from this era, uncovering the underlying eco-system between the national and the international communities of practice by shedding light upon their context, influence, intent and ultimate legacy.</p>