Colin Banks
Encyclopedia
Colin Banks co-founder of Banks & Miles, designers and typographers, founded in London in 1958 with partner John Miles. Major clients included the Consumers Association, the Post Office, British Telecom and London Transport
, for whom they redesigned Edward Johnston
's famous Underground Sans (as New Johnston).
. He went to Rochester and Maidstone schools of art (both became Kent Institute of Art & Design
then eventually University for the Creative Arts), where he met John Miles at Maidstone.
, and associated magazines, from 1964-93.
when it was instituted in 1981, spawned many imitators. Its replacement by Wolff Olins
' BT 'piper' was received with much derision in 1991. He received a prestigious RSA/BBC Design Award in 1990, for the paper-saving redesign of the UK's Phonebook. Banks designed the UK Post Office
's distinctive 'double-line' alphabet in 1972. They also designed the logo of Lancaster University
.
He was President of the International Society of Typographic Designers
(ISTD) from 1988-3 and 2000-2.
and his first wife. His daughter was killed in a road accident in 1978 and they had a son.
London Transport Board
The London Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1963-1969. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-History:The...
, for whom they redesigned Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston
Edward Johnston, CBE was a British-Uruguayan craftsman who is regarded, with Rudolf Koch, as the a father of modern calligraphy, in the form of the broad edged pen as a writing tool, a particular form of calligraphy....
's famous Underground Sans (as New Johnston).
Early life
He grew up in MargateMargate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
. He went to Rochester and Maidstone schools of art (both became Kent Institute of Art & Design
Kent Institute of Art & Design
The Kent Institute of Art & Design was an art school based across three campuses in the county of Kent, in the United Kingdom. It was formed by the amalgamation of three independent colleges: Canterbury College of Art, Maidstone College of Art and Rochester College of Art...
then eventually University for the Creative Arts), where he met John Miles at Maidstone.
Career
With John Miles, he was the Production Editor of Which?Which?
Which? is a product-testing and consumer campaigning charity with a magazine, website and various other services run by Which? Ltd ....
, and associated magazines, from 1964-93.
Typography
An influential designer, his Telecom (T) identity, created for British TelecommunicationsBT Group
BT Group plc is a global telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in more than 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of...
when it was instituted in 1981, spawned many imitators. Its replacement by Wolff Olins
Wolff Olins
Wolff Olins is a brand consultancy, based in London, New York City and Dubai. It employs 150 designers, strategists and account managers, and has been part of the Omnicom Group since 2001.-History:...
' BT 'piper' was received with much derision in 1991. He received a prestigious RSA/BBC Design Award in 1990, for the paper-saving redesign of the UK's Phonebook. Banks designed the UK Post Office
Post Office Ltd.
Post Office Ltd is a retail post office company in the United Kingdom that provides a wide range of products including postage stamps and banking to the public through its nationwide network of post office branches.-Structure:Post Office Ltd...
's distinctive 'double-line' alphabet in 1972. They also designed the logo of Lancaster University
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
.
He was President of the International Society of Typographic Designers
International Society of Typographic Designers
The International Society of Typographic Designers is a professional body run by and for typographers, graphic designers, and educators. The society has an international membership and its aims are to establish and maintain standards of typography and to provide a forum for debate.- History :The...
(ISTD) from 1988-3 and 2000-2.
Publications
David Jury in his book 'About Face' describes the approach... "For Banks, it was important to respect the spirit of Johnston rather than adhere mechanically to the construction rules which would have made any further development of the design impossible." Banks would later design a limited edition book for the organisation as a tribute to Johnston.Personal life
He was married to Caroline Grigson, daughter of the poet Geoffrey GrigsonGeoffrey Grigson
Geoffrey Edward Harvey Grigson was a British writer. He was born in Pelynt, a village near Looe in Cornwall.-Life:...
and his first wife. His daughter was killed in a road accident in 1978 and they had a son.