Paul Clark Archive

The archive documents the breadth of Paul Clark's wide-ranging activities, including objects and artefacts and their component parts; design documentation such as sketchbooks, artwork and source material; examples of his corporate design; files of business papers and accounts, and covering other areas of interest such as his involvement with Ditchling Museum and the Plastics Historical Society; extensive presscuttings, and several publications.

Paul B. Clark was born 1940. After a two year intermediate art course at Hammersmith College of Art (1959-1961), he began an Industrial Design NDD course at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. After the first year, he started work as a studio assistant with the ceramic designer Michael Caddy, where he was involved in graphic design but also gained valuable design experience in a variety of 3D materials. Clark decided not to resume his studies and in 1962 established himself as a freelance graphic designer and a maker of kitchen accessories. At this time he was especially interested in Letraset and applied for a provisional patent on a similar display lettering system of his own design.

In 1965, the department store Woollands of Knightsbridge commissioned Clark, among others, to design items for a British Fortnight promotion. This led to the famous Union Jack mug and other souvenir items for which he is best known. In 1966 Clark became design consultant to Perspective Designs (founded 1966) where he stayed until they folded in 1969. Continuing with freelance graphic work, he taught part-time on the Foundation and Graphic Design courses at the then Brighton Polytechnic, becoming a full time member of staff in 1975. In 1984 he graduated with an MA in Cultural Studies from the Royal College of Art.

Clark's designs represent the emergence of British Pop culture and provide an invaluable complement to the design bureaucracy of the Council of Industrial Design in the Haymarket.

The material falls into the following series:

PCK/1 Objects and artefacts

PCK/2 Sketchbooks

PCK/3 Designs and preparatory artwork

PCK/4 Corporate design

PCK/5 Associated activities

PCK/6 Business papers and accounts

PCK/5 Source material

PCK/6 Photographs

PCK/7 Press cuttings

PCK/8 Publications

Researchers wishing to consult the collection should make an appointment. Telephone 44 (0)1273 643217 or email designarchives@brighton.ac.uk

The core of the collection was donated by Paul Clark in 2000 and further material has accrued since that date.

A box list, and a listing of some objects on the Filemaker database, are available for consultation at repository.

Description prepared by Catherine Moriarty, February 2006, and edited by Sue Breakell, March 2010

Permission must be sought to publish any material from the collection. Email designarchives@brighton.ac.uk

Paul Clark donated further material relating to his time on the staff of Brighton Polytechnic, with the express wish that this should join the Brighton School of Art collection.