Typomundus 20 Exhibition Catalogue — book, International Center for the Typographic Arts, 1966

In 1966, Typomundus 20 was published by the International Center for the Typographic Arts (ICTA) as a formal record of the landmark exhibition first held in Toronto in 1964. Designed by Jack Timms, with Allan Fleming acting as design consultant, the 296-page catalogue was one of the most ambitious typographic publishing projects of the period. The stylized globe on the cover is the only hint of the catalogue’s international scope.

The catalogue documents 545 selected works from nearly 10,000 entries submitted worldwide. An additional 77 selected entries, unfortunately accidentally destroyed after the judging, are listed at the end of each section. Taken together, the selected works form one of the finest curated surveys of mid-20th-century typography – spanning traditional and modern practices in advertising, publishing, packaging, and experimental communication.

For many designers, Typomundus 20 served as both inspiration and validation. It marked a rare moment when international typographic standards were not only celebrated but made visible across borders – establishing a global conversation around design excellence that continues to resonate today. – Rod McDonald

Artifact Text

A note about the entries, p vi;

612 entries from almost 10,000 submitted for judging were selected by the Typomundus 20 jury. 545 of these entries are shown in this volume. The remaining 77 are listed at the end of each category. These pieces, destroyed accidentally after the judging, could not be replaced in time for inclusion in this volume. Hopefully, these pieces will appear in the catalogue of the next Typomundus exhibition.

Excerpt from Marilyn Hoffner, Publicity Committee, ICTA, p x;

Another Typomundus exhibit is planned for 1967, to be followed by one every three years. It is hoped that the results of this first Typomundus will provide added interest and participation for the 1967 exhibition. This will assist in adding significant examples of twentieth century typography to the archives … entries that were not submitted to the first exhibition.