Stephen Banham

Practicing Typographer, Educator and Writer

Called a ‘typographic evangelist’ by London’s Eye design journal, Stephen Banham is founder of Letterbox, a studio based in Melbourne, Australia. His practice and research interests are centred on the social and cultural aspects of letterforms. Recognised internationally, Banham’s work is informed by research and engagement – he uses typography to tell stories through an array of materials & processes. Banham’s artwork and writings have appeared in countless international publications. He has spoken at international events from Barcelona to Beirut, New Zealand to New York. A board member of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD), he holds both a PhD and a Master of Design (Research). He is currently senior lecturer in typography in the School of Design at RMIT University. He has written and produced more than 18 books across three decades of practice. In 2011 he was awarded a prestigious Creative Fellowship at the State Library of Victoria and has appeared as a typographic expert witness in the Supreme and Federal Courts of Australia. In recent years, his work has developed into large-scale built form. 2018 saw him working on a major refurbishment of Brisbane’s Anzac Square involving 200 square metres of bronze typography.  In 2020 he was awarded a major legacy public art commission for Metro Tunnel – a work that spans over 360 metres in length, and involves the development of four custom typefaces expressing 45 observations using over 1.3 million tiles. In 2022 he was commissioned to design a series of large-scale public works for the City of Stonnington. He is also currently the designer of Meanjin, Australia’s longest running literary journal.


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Industry Experience:
Dr. Stephen Banham is founder of Letterbox (https://www.letterbox.net.au/), a typographic design studio based in Melbourne, Australia. Recognised internationally, his work is informed by research and engagement – we use the voice of typography to tell stories through an array of materials & processes. The studio operates through a 'hybridised practice model' – combining research with typographic design projects. This has culminated in more than 18 books on typography, many type exhibitions, typographic film festivals, public forums and talks at design events all across the world. Our typographic projects encompass a range of mediums –from ink on paper, flickering pixels, through to type built in concrete, wood, glass or tiling.