The graphic works of Ben Shahn – invitation, Cooper & Beatty, Allan Fleming, 1957

In September 1957, Allan Fleming joined Cooper & Beatty, Canada’s leading typesetting company, as Type Director. One of his earliest projects for C&B was designing this invitation for an exhibition showcasing the graphic work of renowned American artist Ben Shahn.

Even at this early stage in his career, Fleming had already developed a refined and sophisticated typographic style – something that would have been immediately recognizable to fellow designers receiving the invitation. With the exhibition opening on September 11, he had little time to produce the design. Although he was more than capable of typesetting and printing the invitation himself, it was likely set by one of C&B’s skilled compositors.

Fleming’s meticulous layouts left little room for misinterpretation, ensuring that his vision was executed precisely. The invitation’s design required expert precision, particularly in aligning the two-color printing – a process demanding both careful registration of type and skilled craftsmanship in letterpress printing.

Inside, the invitation featured a straightforward typeset listing of the artwork included in the exhibition. Notably, while Fleming was Type Director, C&B’s logo never appeared on invitations for visiting artists and designers; the focus was always on the artist.

Over the years, C&B became a hub for Toronto’s top typographers, art directors, and designers. The company hosted exhibitions featuring some of the world’s most influential designers and even brought in the annual Type Directors Club show from New York, solidifying its role as a central force in the Canadian design community. – Rod McDonald