Projects credited in
- Fontsmith | TypeNotes 02Editorial design & art direction — Following the success of issue 1 (it sold out within two months of launch), Fontsmith asked us back to design issue 2 of their magazine, TypeNotes. The new issue has some great articles, including a look at the saucy posters of x-rated movies from the 1960s and 70s; interviews with tattoo artists about the intricacies of lettering onto skin, and why some will never, ever ink a partner’s name; how the humble typewriter had a huge impact on the way type designers approached their craft in the wake of new technologies; and everything from Milton Glaser to designing title plates (and why we shouldn’t be saying “mastheads”). The design follows on from where issue 1 left off: a strong, consistent structure with a simple typographic approach, but with the flexibility to give articles their own personality. TypeNotes No.2 is out now, grab a copy while you can from the Fontsmith shop. Edited by Emily Gosling Printed by CPI
- Fontsmith FS Brabo Limited Edition printAs part of our work with Fontsmith, we wanted to bring something a little bit different to the launch of FS Brabo. At the press everything we do is printed by hand, so the 4000+ run of the specimen we designed was a little too much for us to chew, but there was still a chance for us to roll our sleeves up and get our hands inky. With the new typeface having been inspired by the centuries old pages of printed text and irreplaceable metal punches of the illustrious printer Christophe Plantin, it seemed fitting to bring FS Brabo full circle with a limited edition letterpress print. We should probably mention here that printing from plates is not something we normally do. But when it’s Fontsmith asking, and when it's the only way to use their brand new typeface on our traditional presses, we tend to be a bit flexible with our own rules. Although separate from the type specimen, we designed the limited edition print to sit along side it as a companion piece. The same size as the folded newspaper, it's a simple celebration of some of our favourite letterforms from the font. The soft deckled edge paper and crisp impression echoes the pages of those early printed books and broadsides, which influenced the design of the typeface in the first place.
- FS Brabo Type SpecimenSometimes a project comes along that requires us to leave our type in its cases, the inks on the shelf and fire up our Macs instead. If it’s the right people asking, that is. Fontsmith is London’s leading independent type design studio, and with good reason. While their work adorns everything from global brands to tv channels, and apps to airlines, their printed specimens grace the bookshelves and reference files of design and advertising agencies around the world. So we were honoured to be asked to create the type specimen for the release of their latest font, FS Brabo: a contemporary reinterpretation of the early serifed typefaces, known as Garaldes, that originated in 16th century Europe. Celebrating the typeface’s literary lineage, we created the persona “The Eloquent Type” and the core idea “FS Brabo has a way with words”, which sat at the heart of the project. The typeface itself was inspired by the extraordinary archive of punches, type and books at the world-renowned Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp, so we based the specimen on an equally historic Belgian paper size. Taking its cue from the font’s letterpress leanings, the large newspaper format incorporates a number of different typographic formats, including book title page, chapter openings, a play manuscript, and an editorial piece: the perfect way to show a typeface intended primarily for books, magazines and newspapers. And having been named after the mythical hero of the city of Antwerp, what better story to tell than the myth itself – beautifully written for us by Michael Evamy – as the centrepiece of the specimen. A story, a play, an article, a newspaper, a type specimen. Introducing FS Brabo. The eloquent type. Printed offset litho by CPI Colour.1
- TypeNotes magazineEditorial design & art direction The Counter Press — Following the success of issue 1 (it sold out within two months of launch), Fontsmith asked us back to design issue 2 of their magazine, TypeNotes. The new issue has some great articles, including a look at the saucy posters of x-rated movies from the 1960s and 70s; interviews with tattoo artists about the intricacies of lettering onto skin, and why some will never, ever ink a partner’s name; how the humble typewriter had a huge impact on th
- FS LucasCampaign & visual identity for the launch of the geometric typeface FS Lucas The brief Fontsmith, one of the leading type foundries in the UK, needed a campaign and visual identity for the launch of their new geometric typeface, FS Lucas. I was more than excited when Jason Smith got in touch and asked me if I could help. The idea The colour‐changing grid ‘illuminates’ the characters, focusing on their individual beauty, presenting the wide range of widths while reminding of the typeface’s sour
- It's Nice That x Fontsmith: Local CharactersIt’s Nice That commissioned three creatives to explore the broader possibilities of type, in partnership with Fontsmith. The result was Local Characters, a series of posters and typefaces to showcase the effective use of Brandfont, a service that enables brands to create exclusively licensed typefaces.
Work history
co-founderWordilly
London, United KingdomFull Time
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Founder - Creative DirectorFontsmith
- London, United KingdomFull Time
Awards
GoldCreative Circle
Lost & Foundry (Creative Circle Gold 2019)
European Design Awards, Silver (FS Neruda 2019)
European Design Awards, Bronze (FS Irwin 2018)
Print Typography and Lettering Award (FS Siena 2017)
Red Dot Award (FS Brabo 2016)
Red Dot Award (FS Untitled playground 2016)
European Design Award, Gold (FS Brabo 2016)
Creative Pool Annual (FS Millbank 2016)
Tipos Latinos (FS Brabo 2016)
D&AD (FS Millbank 2015)
Red Dot Award (FS Millbank 2015)
D&AD, In Book Awards (Channel 4 2004, FS Me 2009 & FS Emeric 2014)
Red Dot Award (FS Emeric 2014)
ISTD Award (FS Emeric 2014)
European Design Award, Bronze (FS Emeric 2013)
Tipos Latinos (FS Jack 2012 & FS Pimlico 2012)
DBA Design Effectiveness Award, Silver (10 Years In Type)