Black History Month: Reflecting on our work for The National Archives UK

2 October 2024

We designed the ‘Black Presence’ poster and flyer for the ‘Asian & Black History (1500-1850)’ exhibition. The design concept was simple, yet striking: a mountain of ancient papers and books would provide an evocative tribute to the rich histories of Black and Asian communities in the UK. This was the first time this material was being made accessible online to demonstrate the little known fact that these communities had been part of the UK’s fabric for over 2,000 years.

Our meetings at the National Archives in Kew involved deep dives into a fascinating, yet, labyrinthine resource. It’s a wild thought to think that back in that era pre-Google (1998) or Wikipedia (2001), we relied entirely on traditional research methods. Imagine navigating life without a quick online search, and instead having to use physical resources and considerable legwork!

Here’s to recognising the significance of diversity in our history – both recent and long-gone – and to the luxury of having permanent online access to archives that illuminate and educate us about our past and present.