Professor Paul Luna
Makes contributions across all Department degree programmes.
Areas of interest
Paul Luna's main area of research is the design of complex text, especially dictionaries, in both paper and electronic formats. Dictionary design involves the close mapping of typographic elements to underlying structure and has particular requirements for effective typeface choice. Paul's interests cover both the historical development of dictionary design and the "state of the art", especially the relationship of typographic design to production technologies. Paul is active as a dictionary designer, notably of the last two editions of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (SOED). He has also published a study of the typography of Samuel Johnson's Dictionary.
Other interests include type design, the automation of typesetting, and the role of typography in visual identity. Recent master's and research students Paul has supervised have worked on script integration in Japanese–English dictionaries, type design in the phototypesetting era, and the type designs of Eric Gill.
Background
Paul joined the Department in 1998 from Oxford University Press (OUP), where he was Head of Corporate Design. This was the culmination of 20 years work at OUP that included stints as a designer/typographer and later as Head of Art and Design in the academic division. Responsibilities included the design of major publications such as the Oxford English Dictionary, bilingual dictionaries, the Oxford Shakespeare, and the Revised English Bible, as well as commissioning artists for the annual Oxford Almanack.
As Head of Corporate Design, Paul oversaw the development and worldwide implementation of a new corporate identity for the OUP business. In addition to design practice, he also wrote and lectured on issues related to his OUP activities, focusing on the transfer of knowledge from typographers and typesetters to "lay" users of desktop publishing, and on research into typefaces designed specifically for OUP between 1939 and 1960.