Bradford '81

A typeface inspired by anti-racist Asian youth movements in Bradford, England in the 1970s and 80s.

Bradford ’81 is an all-caps display typeface inspired by anti-racist Asian youth movements in Bradford, England in the 1970s and 80s.

The Asian Youth Movements (AYMs) of ’70s Britain, were formed of second-generation South Asians who mobilised in response to racism within their communities. Inspired by the civil rights and Black Power movements, they campaigned against racism in Britain: from racist attacks on the street to racism in the police, within schools and in immigration and housing laws.

Such movements were often formed under the ideology of ‘political blackness’, a British umbrella term used to refer to all people who experienced racial discrimination based on skin colour.

The design of the typeface is based on the hand-painted banner of the United Black Youth League Bradford, carried by campaigners during a 1981 protest in Bradford. It includes many unique idiosyncrasies of the original lettering, with quirky strokes and soft edged. Its rigid, Constructivist-inspired composition is well suited for headlines, posters and word marks.

If you wish to demo the typeface, Bradford 81 is available as a free trial version. But please note this version has a significantly reduced character set.

Learn more about the Asian Youth Movements, on the Working Class History podcast here.

Bradford 81 is designed and produced by Greg Bunbury / Bunbury Co. © 2021