Typeface Design Inspiration

While at the RSA In London a few Weeks ago, i found myself talking to an ex-NTU Graduate. He said he now worked for a design agency in London and was interested in a typeface i had just recently created. It was my First typeface and was something i was proud of- but equally aware of its flaws and shortcomings. He then proceeded to inform me of a few ‘Type Foundries’ that might be:

A. Interested in the Typeface

B. Offer Interesting Typeface’s of their own.

I was thrilled to hear that there were foundries out there that hired full-time designers and was quick to look into it. I found a listing for Colophon Foundry, a Type Foundry in London and PlayType in Copenhagen. He also informed me of Type 34 a Foundry that created one of my – now favourite typefaces ‘Ginger’ which was based on the graphic work of Paul Renner and  Herb Lubalin. This also caused me to crate my second typeface named ‘Glacier’.

Inspirations. Asporations.

So recently i hit a bit of a mind-block. Its always a pain in the arse to have to deal with something like this, my tutor put it down to the ‘confidence trough’. Its Not a pretty situation to me in, he put it to me like this:

So if you are feeling pumped for project its important to remember that feeling might not last. But you have to stick to your guns and it might turn out better than you had planned, given you put the work in.

Inspirations:

I take inspiration from those who push the boat out, and try things they haven’t before. I love it when people try new things – its one of my favourite things to experience. Thats why i appreciate it when designers take risks. Some of my Favourite designers include:

• Milton Glaser: A Design Pioneer, its hard to ignore his work in promotional branding and contributions to music (most notably Bob Dylan) . His work resonates with time and is undeniably genius.
• David Carson: His work is the biggest fuck you to petite lettering and design i’ve ever witnessed, the chaos and beauty of his work influences me heavily. I think theres something unique in knowing – and subsequently breaking the rules of design. No-one does it better than Carson.
• Jonathan Barnbrook: From his animation work, to Blackstar and Heathen. Barnbrook pushes the boat and doesn’t have a set style. Thats what i like about him, he wants to try news things and not root himself in any given format.

Asporations:

My Ultimate goal is to never be ‘comfortable’. I want to push myself into new territory as much as i can, i want to lear software, programs i want to code, i want to design, i want to make and sculpt. I want to make sure that by the time i leave this world i have a bookcase full of books i’ve made. Or a wall full of posters i’ve curated. My aspirations are fairly simple, i want to create.

Design.

I started this course thinking i wanted to be a graphic designer – now while that’s true, i think now its expanded to ‘i just want to make stuff i like’. Finding a place where i can earn money to live and also enjoy my time is going to be an interesting experience to say the least. I’ve come to the conclusion that any job in the area i want to work in will do, because i’m not under the impression i’ll find my perfect job almost instantly like a lot of graduates are.

Conceptual Design

“Less is More – Milton Glaser”

Conceptual Design has been floating around since the 60s with Andy Warhol at his prime. Obviously Warhol is the most prominent conceptual thinker of the time, with works such as “Empire” which is literally a full day of nothing but the Empire State Building in NYC from 3am til sunset. I always considered conceptual design something that has zero benefit to anyone, as a teenager in school i remember graphic design being associated with leaflet stands, movie posters, packaging design and branding/logo design. I NEVER in a million years thought that graphic design didn’t have to be literal, i thought it was black and white – plain as day, functional  if anything.

My Experience at Fusion II

Today i took a 4 hour seminar on freelance design (fusion session) at the University (NTU). There i learnt about copyright, patent protection, trademarks and TM’s [which are totally different apparently, under a TM you don’t have to pay anything but it limits protection to a minimum as its not a legal form of protection] along with other skills and conversation and networking with some NTU graduates who had gone on to run small business’. We also had a brief chat with Lydia Wafefield, who works for the Association of independent professionals and the self employed who told us that our University (NTU) offered a free membership to their business which helps with freelance pensions and other financial advice along with awards and support.

Somewhat pretentious post about why records are better than any other format

I Promise i’ll only write one post about this.

I like vinyl, it fills me with nostalgia of a time i didn’t exist. Its a paradox for me, how can i enjoy something so much when it wasn’t mine to grow up with. Why do i not relish the old 30 – song mp3 players that i had growing up as a kid. The reason for me is simple – music

My “Style”

When you are studying at University you hear this type of nonsense thrown around a-lot. I have literally seen people spend hundreds of hours of time, thinking and pondering their style and in their minds how they can be the next Jonathan Barnbrook or Milton Glaser. In reality such a feat is impossible, not because both Barnbrook and Glaser are omnipotent celestial-beings; but because you can never be someone else. And frankly, why would you want to? It annoys me beyond belief because i see such talented people and all they do is fill their heads with concern about what they will be in the ultimate end. I would also be lying if i said i wasn’t one of these people…