Typographic Inspiration

Like many creatives, I find it difficult to switch off my ‘design brain’, and regularly discover inspiration, sometimes in unlikely places. Here is a round up of some of the various type specimens I have encountered in recent months.

British Film Institute, London

I am always fascinated by this building. On this occasion, as I approached along Waterloo Bridge, I could see the illuminated letterforms gradually come into focus, not realising the full scale of them until I was up close. It is always interesting to see how marketing for TV and Film is adapted to the environment in which it is to be placed.

The Morocco Store, London

This type of hand-painted lettering that is so rarely seen today always catches my eye. I find that the personal touch creates a sense of story behind the type, enticing me to learn more about the buildings history. London in particular is full of examples just like this, where business owners of years gone by have worked carefully within the often awkward dimensions of a building to advertise their services.

Barbara Kruger: Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You., Serpentine Gallery, London

Even if you don’t know her name, most people are familiar with Barbara Kruger’s work. What I found particularly interesting at this exhibition was overhearing other conversations, with many people offering an individual perspective on her work. It seems to me that what can often be discounted as an art form, actually has the ability to connect with people on a variety of levels.

Leesona Machine, Quarry Bank Mill, Manchester

An old mill run by the National Trust is certainly not where I expected to find any interesting typography, but I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this textile machine (I’m sure it has a more technical name but I am no expert!). Rather than a painted logo or sticker added at the last second, this wordmark is actually cast into the metal of the machine. It made me wonder; was the machine designed in a way that it could house the logo, or was the logo designed to perfectly fit that space?

Writ in Water, Runnymede

Written words have always been a powerful form of expression and communication, but the significance of the medium is often overlooked. This beautiful installation in Runnymede utilises letterforms that have been reversed both horizontally and vertically so that they appear in the reflection of the water below. The nature of this reflected type along with the circular shape of the pool encourages the viewer to move around it, as each word reveals itself.