Chris Killip Trust
Business photographer
Location California
Working together since 2023
Website built with Squarespace
Delivered web design
The BBC described Chris Killip as “one of the UK's most important and influential post-war photographers.”
I have been a long time admirer of his photos. I visited his fine retropsective at the Photographers Gallery in London in late January. Over a relaxed pint in a wood panelled London pub I tweeted about how the exhibition was all I had hoped for and more.
Two hours later an email arrived from his son who had seen my tweet, visited my website and was impressed with the website I had designed for the Saul Leiter Foundation.
He asked if I’d be interested in developing a new website for Chris Killip.
I couldn’t say yes fast enough.
The initial inspiration for the design came from Chris Killip’s seminal book In Flagrante Two. The book has one photo per double page spread. Black and white photos on a white page. Not many words. All in a black sans-serif font.
Minimal distraction. The photos are all.
For the font, I chose Work Sans. It felt appropriate. His photographs documented the economic shifts caused by the deindustrialisation of Britain in the 1970’s & 80’s.
In addition, two of his photobooks have “work” in their title - Pirelli Work (2006) and albeit / work (2012).
To inject a little colour, the dash of cream and dark red was inspired by his most recent publication, Chris Killip 1946-2020.
The new website has galleries of his work, a selection of films (including this poignant one filmed and edited by his son, Matthew, in 2020) and a full list of his photobooks.
It’s been an honour to work with the Chris Killip Trust to design this website.
If you were unfortunate to miss his recent exhibition at The Photographers Gallery, it is moving to the Baltic, Gateshead from 1st April to 3rd September 2023.
If you would like to explore more of Chris Killip’s work, his website is a fine place to start followed by a trip to an independent bookshop to purchase his recent retrospective Chris Killip 1946-2020.
