University of Brighton Design Archives’ Digital Imaging and Media Technician Sirpa Kutilainen has successfully completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Paper Conservation at the University of the Arts, London. For her final project she worked on a set of original mixed media illustrations by David Knight (MSIA) created for the ‘Colour and Pattern in the Home’ booklet from the Design Council Archive held in the Design Archives.

The illustrations were surface cleaned and disassembled. Adhesives were tested in the lab and remaining residues of the rubber-based glues used to hold together the fragments within the illustrations were scraped off. The pieces were humidified, washed where possible to reduce the acidity of the paper, and flattened. Starch paste was applied to put the illustrations back together, frame pieces were re-attached using hinges made from Japanese tissue and Melanex sleeves created alongside with new housing. Detailed treatment records were created for all of the individual illustrations worked on.

One of the completed pieces is illustrated.