Saturday, August 13, 2011Filed in: botantical gardens | arts&crafts movement
Arts & Crafts movement
preserved in Lake Wales
Bok Tower Gardens
The Bok Tower Gardens contain an important part of design history tucked away between Tampa
and Orlando. Here was the private residence of Edward William Bok, an editor of The Ladies' Home
Journal for 30 years. He was also a leader of the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th
century. On site, you will find The Singing Tower, The Gardens, various trails and the Pinewood Estate.
Also, you can find probably one of the best views in Florida as it is the highest point in the state.
Find more photos here. Read more here.
preserved in Lake Wales
Bok Tower Gardens
The Bok Tower Gardens contain an important part of design history tucked away between Tampa
and Orlando. Here was the private residence of Edward William Bok, an editor of The Ladies' Home
Journal for 30 years. He was also a leader of the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th
century. On site, you will find The Singing Tower, The Gardens, various trails and the Pinewood Estate.
Also, you can find probably one of the best views in Florida as it is the highest point in the state.
Find more photos here. Read more here.
0 Comments
Saturday, August 13, 2011Filed in: architecture
Frank Lloyd Wright in Florida, who knew?
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
To my surprise, Florida Southern College contains Frank Lloyd Wright's largest collection of buildings/
structures on one site (around 9 buildings begun around the 1940s). I went expecting see the campus
resemble the look and feel of the Fallingwater house, but unsure what a Frank Lloyd Wright campus
might comprise. Each entry through the various departmental buildings references a connection to
the outside natural environment. Light bounces in the stairwells, plants sprout from crevices and
pathways open to the sky. Take a visit and it is easy to see why Florida Southern College was recently
voted America's most beautiful college by the Princeton Review in 2011. Find more photos here.
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
To my surprise, Florida Southern College contains Frank Lloyd Wright's largest collection of buildings/
structures on one site (around 9 buildings begun around the 1940s). I went expecting see the campus
resemble the look and feel of the Fallingwater house, but unsure what a Frank Lloyd Wright campus
might comprise. Each entry through the various departmental buildings references a connection to
the outside natural environment. Light bounces in the stairwells, plants sprout from crevices and
pathways open to the sky. Take a visit and it is easy to see why Florida Southern College was recently
voted America's most beautiful college by the Princeton Review in 2011. Find more photos here.
Saturday, August 13, 2011Filed in: Type | WA Dwiggins
A piece of Dwiggins on my shelf
Dr. J and Mr. H, by RLS
I recently received an amazing piece of history in my mailbox — a book designed, illustrated and signed
by William Addison Dwiggins (probably my favorite typeface designer). This edition of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde was printed by the Pynson Printers in 1929 by the New York-based, Alfred A. Knopf publishing
house (later, Random House Publishing).
Bethany, I thank you for your sharp eyes as you found this gem and most importantly, sent it my way.
Forever grateful. I'll keep it safe and away from future rodents.
Dr. J and Mr. H, by RLS
I recently received an amazing piece of history in my mailbox — a book designed, illustrated and signed
by William Addison Dwiggins (probably my favorite typeface designer). This edition of Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde was printed by the Pynson Printers in 1929 by the New York-based, Alfred A. Knopf publishing
house (later, Random House Publishing).
Bethany, I thank you for your sharp eyes as you found this gem and most importantly, sent it my way.
Forever grateful. I'll keep it safe and away from future rodents.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011Filed in: Type
Tampa & St. Petersburg type
I am constantly surprised, inspired and curious about the typographic world around me — mostly recently Tampa, now vs. then. Whether it is old environmental signage repurposed in trendy boutiques or the fluorescent neons along Dale Mabry Highway, this part of Florida keeps my memory card full. Enjoy and I hope to update regularly.
Find more photos here.
Paperstreet Market, St. Pete
Florida Street perhaps, downtown Tampa
Sunset Beach, St. Pete
Thai Temple, 50th Street, Tampa
The Columbia, Ybor City, Tampa
Dale Mabry, Tampa
Ladies' Restrooms, Tampa Theatre, Tampa
I am constantly surprised, inspired and curious about the typographic world around me — mostly recently Tampa, now vs. then. Whether it is old environmental signage repurposed in trendy boutiques or the fluorescent neons along Dale Mabry Highway, this part of Florida keeps my memory card full. Enjoy and I hope to update regularly.
Find more photos here.
Paperstreet Market, St. Pete
Florida Street perhaps, downtown Tampa
Sunset Beach, St. Pete
Thai Temple, 50th Street, Tampa
The Columbia, Ybor City, Tampa
Dale Mabry, Tampa
Ladies' Restrooms, Tampa Theatre, Tampa
Sunday, January 30, 2011Filed in: Type
Baton Rouge type
During a Saturday morning farmer's market in the downtown area, I spotted new and old type.
It seems I passed it by during my early college days. Nice to see downtown alive and well.
Find more photos here.
During a Saturday morning farmer's market in the downtown area, I spotted new and old type.
It seems I passed it by during my early college days. Nice to see downtown alive and well.
Find more photos here.
Sunday, November 28, 2010Filed in: newspaper
Newspaper with a second life
This bird's nest was spotted in the lower branch of a magnolia tree.
Looking closer, the bird used a newspaper article to line the base of the structure –
coincidentally, it tells the story of a robbery.
This bird's nest was spotted in the lower branch of a magnolia tree.
Looking closer, the bird used a newspaper article to line the base of the structure –
coincidentally, it tells the story of a robbery.
Sunday, November 28, 2010Filed in: Type
A Hamiliton Electronic
Antique shopping in small town Louisiana, and I spotted a 1960s Hamiliton Electronic.
Hamiliton Electric produced one of the very first battery powered watches,
Hamilton Electric 500, produced (electro-mechanical) during the late 1950s.
The timeless designs have gained popularity on Mad Men and the fashion world.
Now in search of a battery, I am curious if this $3 purchase actually ticks.
Antique shopping in small town Louisiana, and I spotted a 1960s Hamiliton Electronic.
Hamiliton Electric produced one of the very first battery powered watches,
Hamilton Electric 500, produced (electro-mechanical) during the late 1950s.
The timeless designs have gained popularity on Mad Men and the fashion world.
Now in search of a battery, I am curious if this $3 purchase actually ticks.
Monday, October 11, 2010Filed in: Typographic needlepoint
Typographic needlepoint…
Rummaging through my mom's old baskets of needle and thread,
I discovered these worksheets of "Needlepoint by Design."
Rummaging through my mom's old baskets of needle and thread,
I discovered these worksheets of "Needlepoint by Design."
Flying south for the Winter…
Upon re-entry to the States after a year abroad, I discovered the typographic landscape of the South
is just as I remembered with a few new surprises. A "WHO-DAT?" nation has emerged
since the victory of the New Orleans Saints. Fleur-de-lis, the American football league's logo,
is printed on cups, shirts, blankets and almost flat surface imaginable. Typography features
the handwritten, sentimental taglines and rustic aesthetic.
a
Upon re-entry to the States after a year abroad, I discovered the typographic landscape of the South
is just as I remembered with a few new surprises. A "WHO-DAT?" nation has emerged
since the victory of the New Orleans Saints. Fleur-de-lis, the American football league's logo,
is printed on cups, shirts, blankets and almost flat surface imaginable. Typography features
the handwritten, sentimental taglines and rustic aesthetic.
aThursday, October 07, 2010Filed in: packaging design | Typography
Raiding my grandparent's liquor cabinet…
Many objects of the past can be rediscovered when you grow up in the same house
your grandparent's once resided. In particular, the liquor cabinet still contains
many bottles from the 1960s. Here's a few of my favorite bottles and the display typography.
Many objects of the past can be rediscovered when you grow up in the same house
your grandparent's once resided. In particular, the liquor cabinet still contains
many bottles from the 1960s. Here's a few of my favorite bottles and the display typography.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010Filed in: books | What I'm reading
What I'm reading…
Food Network's Alton Brown explores road cuisine along the Mississippi River from LA to MN.
He searches for authentic dishes and finds history often tucked away in the middle of nowhere.
Alton describes the cuisine as one belonging to a once "rural and agrarian society."
Many meals do not shy away from the calories. He provides recipes their owners
were willing to share, but in most cases, tries to recreate a recipe from scratch.
Thanks for the copy, Tom!
Food Network's Alton Brown explores road cuisine along the Mississippi River from LA to MN.
He searches for authentic dishes and finds history often tucked away in the middle of nowhere.
Alton describes the cuisine as one belonging to a once "rural and agrarian society."
Many meals do not shy away from the calories. He provides recipes their owners
were willing to share, but in most cases, tries to recreate a recipe from scratch.
Thanks for the copy, Tom!
Tuesday, September 07, 2010Filed in: MATD
Ready or not…
Download PDF specimens of the typefaces, Reflection on Practice essays
on the development of the typefaces, and contact the designers.
Read more about the course through the
Department of Typography and Graphic Communication.
Read more: Acadie and Yala.
Download PDF specimens of the typefaces, Reflection on Practice essays
on the development of the typefaces, and contact the designers.
Read more about the course through the
Department of Typography and Graphic Communication.
Read more: Acadie and Yala.
Saturday, July 24, 2010Filed in: London
Proms 2010 @ RAH
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2010/
- Parry Symphonic Fantasia in B minor, '1912' (Symphony No. 5) (25 mins)
- Scriabin Piano Concerto in F sharp minor (28 mins)
- interval
- Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, 'Pathétique' (46 mins)
- Nelson Goerner piano
- BBC Philharmonic
- Vassily Sinaisky conductor
Saturday, July 24, 2010Filed in: Advertising
brand extension?
Caught my eye traveling through King's Cross Station in London. Do you see what I see?
http://www.tabasco.com/main.cfm
Fat Face http://www.fatface.com/
Caught my eye traveling through King's Cross Station in London. Do you see what I see?
http://www.tabasco.com/main.cfm
Fat Face http://www.fatface.com/
Saturday, July 24, 2010Filed in: Reading, UK
Proof we do exist
Dept. of Typography and Graphic Communication: MA students, lecturers and staff
Dept. of Typography and Graphic Communication: MA students, lecturers and staff
Friday, May 21, 2010Filed in: Conference
Pen to Printer 2010…
Ditchling, England
Image taken from Ann Pillar and Peter Cartwright's exhibition, From Chisel to Pen: Early Christian Inscriptions.
Detail of calligraphy by Edward Johnston on display at the Ditchling Museum.
Ditchling's countryside
View NEIGHBORHOODS OF TYPE (Ditchling)
Ditchling, England
Image taken from Ann Pillar and Peter Cartwright's exhibition, From Chisel to Pen: Early Christian Inscriptions.
Detail of calligraphy by Edward Johnston on display at the Ditchling Museum.
Ditchling's countryside
View NEIGHBORHOODS OF TYPE (Ditchling)
Friday, April 30, 2010Filed in: Information Design
Informational destination
On board Great Western train to London, I noticed for the first time a Volo: TV.
Passengers can track their route, find the nearest Tube stop, read the news…
but, finding a seat can be difficult during pricey peak hours. http://www.volo.tv/
On board Great Western train to London, I noticed for the first time a Volo: TV.
Passengers can track their route, find the nearest Tube stop, read the news…
but, finding a seat can be difficult during pricey peak hours. http://www.volo.tv/
Friday, April 30, 2010Filed in: Stage
Athletic magic on stage
One of the best places in London has to be the Royal Opera House.
where you can watch 2+ hours of Frederick Ashton's choreography with Prokofiev's great score.
Here's a preview:
http://www.roh.org.uk/video/index.html?bcpid=1733261711&bclid=1740033471&bctid=68149287001
One of the best places in London has to be the Royal Opera House.
where you can watch 2+ hours of Frederick Ashton's choreography with Prokofiev's great score.
Here's a preview:
http://www.roh.org.uk/video/index.html?bcpid=1733261711&bclid=1740033471&bctid=68149287001
Friday, April 30, 2010Filed in: symposium
A textural journey
Attended a day in University of London's Senate House with a group curious about the state of paper in the digital age.
Here's a list of presenters and the titles of each paper presented.
ON PAPER. A symposium exploring the meanings of the material page in the era of the digital text
Beveridge Hall, Senate House
http://ies.sas.ac.uk/events/conferences/2010/OnPaper/index.htm
PROGRAMME:
PANEL 1: SERIALS / NEWSPAPERS / COMICS (Chair: Robert Eaglestone)
Tony Venezia (Birkbeck), 'Alan Moore and the Material Text: The Case of The Mirror of Love.' 'Zara Dinnen (Birkbeck), 'Object McSweeney's: Fetishising print in the Digital Age.'Laurel Brake (Birkbeck), 'Paper Chains/Paper Dreams? Reading nineteenth-century serials online and on paper'
PANEL 2: READING THE SURFACE (Chair: Joe Brooker)
Luisa Calè (Birkbeck), 'Reading and Cutting through the Surface: William Blake's extra-illustrated page from paper to print and to screen.' Heather Tilley (Birkbeck), 'The "feeling reader": embossed books for blind people in the nineteenth century.' Patrizia di Bello (Birkbeck),'The Sculptures of Picasso with Photos by Brassai' Henderson Downing (Birkbeck), ' "A modernist collage of found objects": The Second Education of Iain Sinclair'
PANEL 3: MARKING THE SURFACE (Chair: Gill Partington)
Adam Smyth (Birkbeck), 'Collage: Reconsidering Renaissance Writing.' Ros Murray (King's College), 'Scrapings of the Soul: Artaud's Cahier 395'. Anthony Bale (Birkbeck), 'Medieval graffiti, Digitization and the Emotional Archive'
Response from Professor Esther Leslie, followed by round table discussion.
Attended a day in University of London's Senate House with a group curious about the state of paper in the digital age.
Here's a list of presenters and the titles of each paper presented.
ON PAPER. A symposium exploring the meanings of the material page in the era of the digital text
Beveridge Hall, Senate House
http://ies.sas.ac.uk/events/conferences/2010/OnPaper/index.htm
PROGRAMME:
PANEL 1: SERIALS / NEWSPAPERS / COMICS (Chair: Robert Eaglestone)
Tony Venezia (Birkbeck), 'Alan Moore and the Material Text: The Case of The Mirror of Love.' 'Zara Dinnen (Birkbeck), 'Object McSweeney's: Fetishising print in the Digital Age.'Laurel Brake (Birkbeck), 'Paper Chains/Paper Dreams? Reading nineteenth-century serials online and on paper'
PANEL 2: READING THE SURFACE (Chair: Joe Brooker)
Luisa Calè (Birkbeck), 'Reading and Cutting through the Surface: William Blake's extra-illustrated page from paper to print and to screen.' Heather Tilley (Birkbeck), 'The "feeling reader": embossed books for blind people in the nineteenth century.' Patrizia di Bello (Birkbeck),'The Sculptures of Picasso with Photos by Brassai' Henderson Downing (Birkbeck), ' "A modernist collage of found objects": The Second Education of Iain Sinclair'
PANEL 3: MARKING THE SURFACE (Chair: Gill Partington)
Adam Smyth (Birkbeck), 'Collage: Reconsidering Renaissance Writing.' Ros Murray (King's College), 'Scrapings of the Soul: Artaud's Cahier 395'. Anthony Bale (Birkbeck), 'Medieval graffiti, Digitization and the Emotional Archive'
Response from Professor Esther Leslie, followed by round table discussion.
Friday, April 30, 2010Filed in: packaging
Eco-packaging
If you find yourself in the London area, I recommend a visit to Planet Organic either for the food or a little product design browsing.
http://www.planetorganic.com/
If you find yourself in the London area, I recommend a visit to Planet Organic either for the food or a little product design browsing.
http://www.planetorganic.com/
Wednesday, April 28, 2010Filed in: packaging
Packaging by hand
Michael Twyman's lectures are back in session.
This week he displayed an abundant collection of packaging dating from the 18th century.
Many of the packages are produced by hand and are reused as storage boxes
surpassing their original shelf life. Also, punches created during the production
of metal type were stored in such boxes of the time. My personal favorite is featured below.
Michael Twyman's lectures are back in session.
This week he displayed an abundant collection of packaging dating from the 18th century.
Many of the packages are produced by hand and are reused as storage boxes
surpassing their original shelf life. Also, punches created during the production
of metal type were stored in such boxes of the time. My personal favorite is featured below.
Saturday, April 24, 2010Filed in: Thai
Unusual groceries
ThaiSmile Supermarket
283-287 King Street, Hammersmith, London
What is this kid eating? Delicious seaweed sheets make for a salty snack.
Typography resembles handwriting, but each character appears to be an exact duplication.
Stickers for your keyboard.
The smallest type size of a Thai typeface I have seen thus far. Contains two chicken bouillon cubes.
ThaiSmile Supermarket
283-287 King Street, Hammersmith, London
What is this kid eating? Delicious seaweed sheets make for a salty snack.
Typography resembles handwriting, but each character appears to be an exact duplication.
Stickers for your keyboard.
The smallest type size of a Thai typeface I have seen thus far. Contains two chicken bouillon cubes.
Friday, April 23, 2010Filed in: Amsterdam
4 Amsterdam, Netherlands
The highlight of an evening in Bussum.
The Unger's graciously hosted the MATDs with a warm meal and happy company.
Juanita, the rabbit, even made a special appearance.
Representing Liechtenstein, USA, Canada and Amsterdam's many canals.
Subtle similarities to Louisiana's below sea level flat terrain only the USA needs more bikes on the road.
Nice white window display of origami wedding folds amid the Red Light District.
The pride and joy of the Dutch road: Gerard Unger's typeface for the ANWB. Am especially fond of the arrows.
An unusual find at an open-air book market.
Van boom tot krant or From Tree to Paper by C. Pels.
Not certain the date of publication, but it appears to be around the 1950s.
Tom Hagers, the young boy with slicked-back hair and a full suit,
appears in numerous photographs demonstrating various stages of the papermaking process.
Dutch text:
"Achter een der ramen stond tom. tom hagers, oud dertien jaar bijna veertien, niet zo klein,
niet zo du, niet zo dik, een gewone, normale jongen zoals er zoveel rond lopen.
Hij wordt de hoofdepersoon van dit verhaal en daarom stelden wij hem zo even aan je voor. "
With the help of Google Translate thus far:
Tom stood behind one of the windows. Tom Hager, thirteen years old, almost fourteen,
not so small, not so thick, an ordinary, normal guy like so many around.
He is the main person in this story, so we asked him just to you.
Located in the back of the book, a copper matrix with teeth for the monotype machine (Koperen matrijsje voor de zet).
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. She's a beauty, but am not fond of the All Other Passports queue
(chiefly Brit. a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to)
during Icelandic volcanic eruptions.
View NEIGHBORHOODS OF TYPE (Amsterdam)
The highlight of an evening in Bussum.
The Unger's graciously hosted the MATDs with a warm meal and happy company.
Juanita, the rabbit, even made a special appearance.
Representing Liechtenstein, USA, Canada and Amsterdam's many canals.
Subtle similarities to Louisiana's below sea level flat terrain only the USA needs more bikes on the road.
Nice white window display of origami wedding folds amid the Red Light District.
The pride and joy of the Dutch road: Gerard Unger's typeface for the ANWB. Am especially fond of the arrows.
An unusual find at an open-air book market.
Van boom tot krant or From Tree to Paper by C. Pels.
Not certain the date of publication, but it appears to be around the 1950s.
Tom Hagers, the young boy with slicked-back hair and a full suit,
appears in numerous photographs demonstrating various stages of the papermaking process.
Dutch text:
"Achter een der ramen stond tom. tom hagers, oud dertien jaar bijna veertien, niet zo klein,
niet zo du, niet zo dik, een gewone, normale jongen zoals er zoveel rond lopen.
Hij wordt de hoofdepersoon van dit verhaal en daarom stelden wij hem zo even aan je voor. "
With the help of Google Translate thus far:
Tom stood behind one of the windows. Tom Hager, thirteen years old, almost fourteen,
not so small, not so thick, an ordinary, normal guy like so many around.
He is the main person in this story, so we asked him just to you.
Located in the back of the book, a copper matrix with teeth for the monotype machine (Koperen matrijsje voor de zet).
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. She's a beauty, but am not fond of the All Other Passports queue
(chiefly Brit. a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to)
during Icelandic volcanic eruptions.
View NEIGHBORHOODS OF TYPE (Amsterdam)
Friday, April 23, 2010Filed in: Haarlem
3 Haarlem, Netherlands
Founded in 1703, Izzak Enschedé established a printing house specializing printed materials
such as bank notes among other projects. This visit featured an amazing museum housing
a vast archive of original matrices, punches, moulds and everyday correspondences.
Was able to observe blinding 2-point metal type. Also, unique story on the Enschedés'
early interest in the daguerreotype, a large scale commercial photographic process was shared.
Happy owner of No 1056: Typefoundries in the Netherlands, from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century :
a history based mainly on material in the collection of Joh. Enschede en Zonen
at Haarlem / by Charles Enschede ; an English translation with revisions and
notes by Harry Carter, with the assistance of Netty Hoeflake; edited by Lotte Hellinga
Founded in 1703, Izzak Enschedé established a printing house specializing printed materials
such as bank notes among other projects. This visit featured an amazing museum housing
a vast archive of original matrices, punches, moulds and everyday correspondences.
Was able to observe blinding 2-point metal type. Also, unique story on the Enschedés'
early interest in the daguerreotype, a large scale commercial photographic process was shared.
Happy owner of No 1056: Typefoundries in the Netherlands, from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century :
a history based mainly on material in the collection of Joh. Enschede en Zonen
at Haarlem / by Charles Enschede ; an English translation with revisions and
notes by Harry Carter, with the assistance of Netty Hoeflake; edited by Lotte Hellinga
people have left for us…
Thursday, April 22, 2010Filed in: The Hague
2 The Hague, Netherlands
Museum Meermanno-Westreenianum, Conventions of the Book, The Hague, Netherlands
A typography-like park. K is for Killen while cold and rainy.
A snippet selection from a session on 1920s modernists parallel with type as ornamentation.
Digging deeper in the work of Piet Zwart and Jan van Krimpen.
More images to come…
Museum Meermanno-Westreenianum, Conventions of the Book, The Hague, Netherlands
A typography-like park. K is for Killen while cold and rainy.
A snippet selection from a session on 1920s modernists parallel with type as ornamentation.
Digging deeper in the work of Piet Zwart and Jan van Krimpen.
More images to come…
Monday, April 19, 2010Filed in: Antwerp
1 Antwerp, Belgium
Representing USA, Spain, Canada and Poland.
Plantin-Moretus Museum (The Golden Compass)
The Golden Compass houses two of the oldest printing presses in the world.
Two-color musical score letterpress printed on both back and front. Red bars are printed first, then notes and text follow.
Type fills the line and marks the end of a column.
Plus, an interesting example of complex typography in multiple languages.
Location of the punchcutters workshop.
Located on the top floor of the foundry, this workshop was most likely to catch fire and
remained here on the top level of the building for greater safety.
A library housing Christoffel Plantin's extensive collection of humanistic and
scientific publications for comparison and reference.
Representing Ireland, USA and Poland.
Top: One of the oldest if not the oldest moulds in existence.
Bottom left is a mould used for scripts as the slant is evident compared to the other mould on the right.
Mmmm…Belgium waffles with sugary sticky bits and fresh mint tea. Mmm…
Antwerp Central Station: My new favorite place to catch a train.
Staircase to Antwerp.
View NEIGHBORHOODS OF TYPE (Antwerp)
Representing USA, Spain, Canada and Poland.
Plantin-Moretus Museum (The Golden Compass)
The Golden Compass houses two of the oldest printing presses in the world.
Two-color musical score letterpress printed on both back and front. Red bars are printed first, then notes and text follow.
Type fills the line and marks the end of a column.
Plus, an interesting example of complex typography in multiple languages.
Location of the punchcutters workshop.
Located on the top floor of the foundry, this workshop was most likely to catch fire and
remained here on the top level of the building for greater safety.
A library housing Christoffel Plantin's extensive collection of humanistic and
scientific publications for comparison and reference.
Representing Ireland, USA and Poland.
Top: One of the oldest if not the oldest moulds in existence.
Bottom left is a mould used for scripts as the slant is evident compared to the other mould on the right.
Mmmm…Belgium waffles with sugary sticky bits and fresh mint tea. Mmm…
Antwerp Central Station: My new favorite place to catch a train.
Staircase to Antwerp.
View NEIGHBORHOODS OF TYPE (Antwerp)
Friday, November 27, 2009Filed in: printing
Printing devices of the past
IBM golf ball for proportional spacing (any typesetter could do it)
Monophoto film matrix
IBM golf ball for proportional spacing (any typesetter could do it)
Monophoto film matrix
Hand-held mould
Friday, November 27, 2009Filed in: Information Design
19th century history charts
Michael Twyman's Monday 'Typographic Delights' session featured
information design samples as books. Specimens dated early 19th-century.
Michael Twyman's Monday 'Typographic Delights' session featured
information design samples as books. Specimens dated early 19th-century.
Friday, November 27, 2009Filed in: Forms
Security seals
cut rosette
security seal
security lines
Forms at first glance can appear detailed, complex and mainly administrative.
During Michael Twyman's Monday 'Typographic Delights' session, I gained a
deeper appreciation for these everyday specimens. On the contrary, forms
of the late 18th-century provide a peek into the daily transactions of churches,
banks, hospitals and the common merchant. A detailed notice of the form reveals
a unique vestige of typography, ornamentation, hand-lettering and stamps.
Each providing a standard of identification, security and etiquette.
cut rosette
security seal
security lines
Forms at first glance can appear detailed, complex and mainly administrative.
During Michael Twyman's Monday 'Typographic Delights' session, I gained a
deeper appreciation for these everyday specimens. On the contrary, forms
of the late 18th-century provide a peek into the daily transactions of churches,
banks, hospitals and the common merchant. A detailed notice of the form reveals
a unique vestige of typography, ornamentation, hand-lettering and stamps.
Each providing a standard of identification, security and etiquette.
Saturday, November 14, 2009Filed in: Monotype Demo
Rare monotype magic
the monotype composition casting machine: first mechanical typesetter.
a typewriter style keyboard punches holes in a roll of paper tape which will control a separate caster.
a matrix (mat): a mould for casting letters (sorts) used in letterpress printing.
The matrix of one letter is held in the lower part of the mould,
the mould is locked and molten type metal is poured into the cavity.
the monotype composition casting machine: first mechanical typesetter.
a typewriter style keyboard punches holes in a roll of paper tape which will control a separate caster.
a matrix (mat): a mould for casting letters (sorts) used in letterpress printing.
The matrix of one letter is held in the lower part of the mould,
the mould is locked and molten type metal is poured into the cavity.
Friday, November 13, 2009Filed in: Lithographic Printing
A litho revival
Michael Twyman presented a collection of chromolithography posters from the end of 19th-century.
Amazing rich color relationships and small letters for sign writing. The apparent textures
present in these prints makes offset printing suddenly less desirable in a room of this nature.
Michael Twyman presented a collection of chromolithography posters from the end of 19th-century.
Amazing rich color relationships and small letters for sign writing. The apparent textures
present in these prints makes offset printing suddenly less desirable in a room of this nature.
Thursday, November 12, 2009Filed in: Children's Books
Wish I read these as a child…
(ventures in British publishing)
Puffin Picture Books, a subset of Penguin Books, produced chromolithographic children's books during the mid 20th-century.
(ventures in British publishing)
Puffin Picture Books, a subset of Penguin Books, produced chromolithographic children's books during the mid 20th-century.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009Filed in: Letterpress
The work of Desmond Jeffery
At a lecture at St. Bride Library, the life of a late letterpress printer, Desmond Jeffery, was recalled.
The first public exhibition of his work was on display.
http://stbride.org/events/lateletterpress
At a lecture at St. Bride Library, the life of a late letterpress printer, Desmond Jeffery, was recalled.
The first public exhibition of his work was on display.
http://stbride.org/events/lateletterpress
Sunday, October 25, 2009Filed in: Sketches
Sunday, October 25, 2009Filed in: Handwritten
The handwritten
Postcards and their enticing tendencies. Paper, stamps and ink. I am fascinated by the fact that the speed,
pressure and position of my pen seems to fluctuate with each postcard written. My cursive tends to shift
as does the leading and letter-spacing. Split personalities perhaps?
Postcards and their enticing tendencies. Paper, stamps and ink. I am fascinated by the fact that the speed,
pressure and position of my pen seems to fluctuate with each postcard written. My cursive tends to shift
as does the leading and letter-spacing. Split personalities perhaps?
Saturday, October 24, 2009Filed in: Technology
Technology
Providing shameless praise of my new point-and-shoot digital camera. As much as I can like
the quality of film and/or a hunky digital SLR, my new Olympus Stylus-7010,
(12 megapixel, 7x wide zoom) has skills and a nice price.
The super macro function has the capability to capture the texture of paper,
the finer details of a letter's bracketing and the punch of metal type.
Providing shameless praise of my new point-and-shoot digital camera. As much as I can like
the quality of film and/or a hunky digital SLR, my new Olympus Stylus-7010,
(12 megapixel, 7x wide zoom) has skills and a nice price.
The super macro function has the capability to capture the texture of paper,
the finer details of a letter's bracketing and the punch of metal type.
Saturday, October 24, 2009Filed in: Kerning
Why the bad kerning?
Again, Michael Twyman's weekly presentation of fascinating artifacts triggers questions
in relation to the production and the craft of typography of the 18th/19th-century.
Why such bad kerning between letters? Sure, the word is still somewhat legible, or is it?
Does one see SLA VE or SLAVE?
Again, Michael Twyman's weekly presentation of fascinating artifacts triggers questions
in relation to the production and the craft of typography of the 18th/19th-century.
Why such bad kerning between letters? Sure, the word is still somewhat legible, or is it?
Does one see SLA VE or SLAVE?
Saturday, October 24, 2009Filed in: Letterpress
One grand room
No gloves, no vaults, no humidity sensors. Each week, Michael Twyman presents a room filled
with theatre broadsheets, government documents and various samples showcasing street reading
artifacts of the 18th and 19th-century France and Britain. One is able to touch the paper, ink,
punch of metal type and wood typefaces used as a sample collection of prints all in original size and scale.
No gloves, no vaults, no humidity sensors. Each week, Michael Twyman presents a room filled
with theatre broadsheets, government documents and various samples showcasing street reading
artifacts of the 18th and 19th-century France and Britain. One is able to touch the paper, ink,
punch of metal type and wood typefaces used as a sample collection of prints all in original size and scale.
Saturday, October 24, 2009Filed in: Wood Type
Sugar plums
With class well under way, I am often distracted by the shelves and shelves of wood type lining the walls.
Not to mention rooms filled with printing presses. Hopefully, prints will follow soon.
Do miss the 13th FL Sharp Letterpress Shop in Chicago, IL.
With class well under way, I am often distracted by the shelves and shelves of wood type lining the walls.
Not to mention rooms filled with printing presses. Hopefully, prints will follow soon.
Do miss the 13th FL Sharp Letterpress Shop in Chicago, IL.
Sunday, October 11, 2009Filed in: Reading, UK
incoming…
The summer has flown, and I now find myself in a little slice of English paradise.
Located in the county of Berkshire, Reading is a home away from home for a year of study
and cultural immersion at the University of Reading.
The summer has flown, and I now find myself in a little slice of English paradise.
Located in the county of Berkshire, Reading is a home away from home for a year of study
and cultural immersion at the University of Reading.