Designer
Bringing together more than 1,200 images, it ranges from Clark family portraits and Quaker history to ephemera, and of course, the shoes themselves.
I developed the book’s grid and typographic style in collaboration with designer David Carroll, then laid out the book myself, focusing on clean design that allows the imagery to breathe.
The challenge was to acknowledge the passage of time while keeping the book cohesive, so it reads as a single visual journey rather than a series of disconnected eras.
His own interest grew from observing how Clarks 'has been embraced across musical genres and subcultures'.
When choosing typefaces for a book, I try to connect them to the subject matter in some way, so I used Zurich for the quotes and chapter headings – a font that Tony used frequently in his work for Greensleeves.
Photography from reggae and dancehall hasn’t been celebrated in the same way as that from rock, jazz, or other genres, so it felt important to shine a light on this imagery and give it the attention it deserves.
The article profiles Alexander Newman’s new book 'From Somerset to the World: Clarks A Visual History 1825–2025', published by One Love Books. The publication traces the cultural and visual evolution of Clarks shoes, from their Quaker roots to their global influence across subcultures and media. Designed with David Carroll, the book combines archival imagery, historical typography, and clean layout to create a cohesive visual narrative.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May explores how Clarks evolved from a symbol of school conformity into a global cultural icon. It highlights the new book 'From Somerset to the World: Clarks A Visual History 1825–2025' by Alexander Newman and One Love Books, which documents the brand’s 200-year journey through design, music, and subculture. The piece celebrates Clarks’ enduring authenticity and its unexpected adoption by creative communities worldwide.
The article profiles Alexander Newman’s reissue of 'Greensleeves: The First 100 Covers', a book celebrating the first hundred vinyl sleeves from the legendary reggae label Greensleeves Records. The new edition expands on the original 2010 release, featuring archival photography, interviews, and design references to the label’s visual legacy. Newman collaborated with Light Project Photography and drew inspiration from Tony McDermott’s iconic artwork and typography.