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Fab Lab South West technician Matt Holmes awarded European scholarship for international typography residency in Italy
Friday, 15 August, 2025 — Arts University Plymouth’s Fab Lab South West Technician Matt Holmes has been awarded the 2025 European scholarship for TipoItalia, a prestigious international letterpress and type design residency at Tipoteca Italiana, Italy.
Matt Holmes explores heritage and digital type design in prestigious TipoItalia programme.
<p>In June 2025, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/">Arts University Plymouth</a>’s <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/fab-lab">Fab Lab South West</a> Technician and practice-based PhD researcher Matt Holmes was awarded the European scholarship place on <a href="https://www.tipoitalia.net/">TipoItalia</a>, a prestigious two-week residency at the <a href="https://www.tipoteca.it/en/">Tipoteca Italiana Fondazione</a> in Cornuda, Italy. The programme brought together 12 participants from across the globe to explore Italian type design, letterpress printing, and digital type revivals under the guidance of internationally renowned tutors.</p>
<p>Selected as the sole European scholarship recipient for 2025, Matt joined fellow designers, printers and educators from the USA, Brazil, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia and the UK. The residency, now in its fourth year, is organised by a team of US-based letterpress printmakers and offers only two fully funded places annually – one for a US-based student and one for a Europe-based student.</p>
Matt Holmes
<p dir="ltr">Based in Tipoteca’s extensive museum, archive and print shop, participants examined historic Italian wood and metal type, learning the art of “reviving” lost letterforms using specialist design software. Alongside creating a personal digital type revival, Matt contributed to group printing projects, producing type specimens and hand-bound books for the museum’s collection.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I was like a kid in a sweet shop – hundreds of drawers of type, incredible presses, and the chance to work alongside people who really understand the craft. It was overwhelming in the best way possible,” said Matt.<br /></p>
<p>The experience also included rare access to Tipoteca’s library of over 5,000 historic volumes, type specimens and technical manuals, including handling a page from a genuine Gutenberg Bible, and guided trips to Venice and Verona to study calligraphy, signwriting, and rare books in public collections.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Matt’s type revival project, <em>Frizzante</em>, was inspired by bold, open-character wood type blocks from Tipoteca’s archive. The name reflects his light-hearted approach to the design process, and the abundance of sparkling water and prosecco enjoyed during the residency.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“To spend two weeks immersed in all things type was the hit of energy I needed,” he reflected. “It reminded me exactly why I’m doing my work and research – because it’s awesome fun, and there’s always more to learn.”<br /></p>
<p>Students at Arts University Plymouth have direct access to the same <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/facilities/fab-lab">Fab Lab South West</a> digital fabrication facilities where Matt develops his research, alongside the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/facilities/imprint-lab">Imprint Lab</a> and specialist print studios equipped for screen-printing, typesetting, CNC routing, 3D printing and more. This environment supports creative pathways from undergraduate degrees such as <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-painting-drawing-printmaking">BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing & Printmaking</a> and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-graphic-design">BA (Hons) Graphic Design</a>, through to postgraduate study, including <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-fine-art">MA Fine Art</a>, <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-design-communication">MA Design (Communication)</a> and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-museum-studies">MA Museum Studies</a>.</p>
<p>Opportunities like TipoItalia are supported by the university’s commitment to knowledge exchange, creative research and international collaboration. Students can benefit from travel bursaries, global networks and the guidance of technical staff and academics who are themselves active practitioners.</p>
<p><strong>Discover how you could access world-class printmaking and digital fabrication facilities –</strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/open-days"> <strong>book an Open Day</strong></a><strong> or explore our courses today.</strong></p>
<p>Matt’s participation in <em>TipoItalia</em> reflects Arts University Plymouth’s commitment to supporting staff in developing internationally significant creative practice and research. As part of the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/fab-lab">Fab Lab South West</a> team, Matt will continue to share his expertise with students across disciplines, bridging heritage printmaking traditions with cutting-edge digital fabrication.</p>
I don’t necessarily think of myself as a printer, more ‘print adjacent’, but experiences like this prove how valuable it is to step outside your comfort zone. That’s where the most exciting work happens.
Fab Lab South West Technician and practice-based PhD researcher Matt Holmes
<p>Fab Lab South West is the largest digital fabrication laboratory in the region, based at Arts University Plymouth. It’s open to students, staff, businesses, and independent makers who want to prototype, design, and manufacture using advanced tools such as 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and 3D scanners. Access is available through memberships, commissions, training, and research collaborations.</p>
<p>Yes. Many courses at Arts University Plymouth build Fab Lab South West workshops and skills into your modules. From 3D printing for Fine Art to CAD modelling for Graphic Design, you’ll have opportunities to learn the tools and processes with guidance from expert technicians. You can also book extra sessions via our SmartHub app to develop your own projects.</p>
<p>No. All new users get an induction with a skilled technician. We offer beginner-friendly training as well as advanced sessions for experienced makers. If you’re a student, these sessions are integrated into your curriculum, and you can also take optional technical enrichment workshops throughout the year.</p>
<p>Arts University Plymouth has more than 13,000 square metres of studios, labs and workshops. These include our Imprint Lab for printmaking and digital print, the Fabric Studio for textiles, the Material Studio for ceramics, glass, and metals, and the Multimedia Studio for photography, film, and sound. You’ll also find our public gallery MIRROR, CAD Lab, and our library specialising in art, design, and media.</p>
<p>Yes. We work with clients across sectors including marine, healthcare, heritage, and creative industries. You can commission one-off prototypes, bespoke parts, or small-batch production, as well as arrange research collaborations and bespoke training for your team.</p>
<p>If you’re studying with us, you can use Fab Lab South West as part of your course, join cross-disciplinary projects, or get involved through clubs, societies, and competitions. You’ll also benefit from the university’s city-centre location, right in Plymouth’s cultural quarter, with access to partners such as The Box, Theatre Royal Plymouth, and Ocean Studios.</p>
<p>Absolutely. Working in Fab Lab South West develops sought-after technical skills, problem-solving ability, and hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment. Many students build portfolio pieces here that have helped them secure jobs, placements, or postgraduate research opportunities – locally, nationally, and internationally.</p>
