Hamish Muir was co-founder of the London-based graphic design studio 8vo (1985–2001) and co-editor of Octavo, journal of typography (1986–92). With 8vo colleague Mark Holt, Muir co-wrote, co-edited and designed 8vo On the Outside, published by Lars Müller in 2005, and Octavo Redux 1:1 – A record of Octavo, journal of typography 1986–1992, published by Unit Editions in 2017.

Together with Paul McNeil, in 2009 he co-founded MuirMcNeil, a collaborative design practice focussed on developing both commercial commissions and independent research projects. MuirMcNeil’s work explores the use of systematic methods in editorial design, brand identity, type design and moving image.