Alan Kitching

About the author

Alan Kitching is a renowned British typographer, graphic designer, and letterpress artist whose career spans over five decades in the field of visual communication. Born in 1944, Kitching studied at Watford School of Art before establishing himself as a master craftsman in letterpress printing and wood type design. His expertise encompasses both traditional printing techniques and contemporary graphic design applications. Kitching has taught typography at the Royal College of Art in London and has been instrumental in reviving interest in letterpress printing among contemporary designers. His workshop in Kennington, London, serves as both a creative studio and a repository of historical printing materials. Prior to "A–Z of Letterpress," Kitching contributed extensively to design publications and exhibitions celebrating the craft of traditional typography.

Kitching's position as both keeper of traditional techniques and active contemporary practitioner creates unique ethical obligations regarding how knowledge is preserved, presented, and transmitted to future generations. His expertise as both craftsman and educator enables a presentation that respects traditional techniques while encouraging contemporary engagement and interpretation. The author's curatorial methodology suggests that fonts are not merely visual elements but archaeological specimens that require careful preservation and contextualization.