This book, by graphic designer Tom Finn, provides material for a critical discussion between archivists, researchers, and designers. It aims to both interrogate flaws in the systems and methods that underpin archives, while highlighting new and innovative ways to challenge outdated conventions as well as perceptions that arise from working with archival material. Various themes are explored, including the archiving of graphic design practices, authorship and ownership, the generation of an archival collection through design research, and how archives function as repositories for memory. The book also chronicles Finn's rigorous investigation of fifteen different archives in the UK, and collects together his interviews with archivists in charge of each repository.

Includes writings by designers, researchers, and academics, including Adrian Shaughnessy, Samantha Hardingham, Paul Heys, Ken Hollings, and Teal Triggs, and Finn himself. With archival portraits of Bishopsgate Institute, Tate Archives, Brighton University Design Archives, Archive Studio Southbank Centre, London Metropolitan Archives, Wellcome Collection, Royal College of Art Archives, British Telecom Archives, Reading University Archives, The Freud Museum, London College of Communication Archives, St Brides Library, Information Governance TFL, V&A Blythe House, and the Zoological Society of London.

Designed, edited, and published by Tom Finn

Printed in a limited edition of 150 copies

Softcover (embossed), 4 × 6.5 inches