Jan Tschichold and the New Typography

On 29th April you can join author and curator Paul Stirton for an exciting Zoom lecture hosted by the St Bride Foundation. Paul Stirton was curator of the exhibition Jan Tschichold and the New Typography held in New York in 2019 and author of the book of the same title (Yale, 2019). His previous books include“Is Mr. Ruskin Living too Long?”: Selected Writings of E.W. Godwin(Oxford 2005). He is Professor of Modern European Design at the Bard Graduate Center in New York and editor of West 86th: A Journal of Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture, published by University of Chicago Press.

During the 1920s Jan Tschichold began corresponding with many emerging graphic designers throughout Europe and the Soviet Union, offering to exchange works or requesting examples of adverts, posters and letterheads. What began as a means of educating himself in the principles of modern design, developed into a comprehensive survey collection of progressive graphics in Europe. Tschichold even referred to it as his “museum”. This collection is now dispersed, but we can recapture the spirit of the heroic period of modernism through Tschichold’s eyes by examining the designs he acquired.

This talk will illuminate works by some leading figures such as ElLissitzky, Kurt Schwitters, Moholy-Nagy and Piet Zwart, as well as lesser known designers like Johannes Molzahn, Walter Dexel and Max Burchartz.

Book Online HERE for an incredibly reasonable £5!

his talk is part of the ‘Celebrating 125 Years of St Bride Library’ lecture series and has kindly been sponsored by: Adobe Commercial Type, Eye Magazine, Eric de Bellaigue, Google, Jerry Wright, Just Another Foundry, Klim Type Foundry, Lexon GB, Creative & Innovative Print, Mayor of London, Medioto - Graphics & Animation, Peter Longland, R-Typography, Type By, Usborne Publishing and The Wynkyn de Worde Charitable Trust who have sponsored students and recent graduates across the UK to attend this lecture.

https://www.sbf.org.uk/whats-on/view/jan-tschichold-and-the-new-typography/

Posted by Justin Hobson 19.04.2021

Freda Sack

Last week it was announced that British type designer Freda Sack died. Freda had a long career starting at Letraset in the 1970's followed by a host of other groundbreaking type design companies. Eventually Freda went freelance and then collaborated with David Quay setting up The Foundry together. Over her long career, Freda is credited with a large number of typeface designs which I shall not attempt to list here.

Freda was deeply involved in education, both as a governor and external examiner. From the mid 1990's she was heavily involved with the smooth running of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) in a variety of roles, culminating with being President from 2006-2010.

Last Summer, Freda was made an Honorary Fellow of the ISTD in recognition of her significant contribution to the Society and the typographic industry. The award was made at the ISTD 90th anniversary, which I wrote about here and where I took the rather over-exposed picture above.

It was a pleasure to know Freda and she was a tireless worker for the causes she was involved with. She was always giving and yet so appreciative to others for their efforts. Freda was a fellow member of the Wynkyn de Worde Society and I was honoured to have her as my guest at last year's Summer party, where she kindly gave me a wonderful 'sign of the sun' brooch, which I treasure.

You can read more about Freda's life here:

https://www.istd.org.uk/blog/freda-sack

Freda touched many lives and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

https://www.istd.org.uk/
http://www.foundrytypes.co.uk/about-the-foundry/the-foundry-partners/freda-sack

Posted by Justin Hobson 19.02.2019

Wynkyn De Worde Society

Some readers of this blog may know that for this past year, I've been chairman of the Wynkyn de Worde Society. Founded in 1957, the society takes it's name from William Caxton's journeyman, Wynkyn de Worde. After Caxton's death, de Worde set up his shop in Fleet Street, which therafter was for centuries perhaps the world's most famous centre of printing and publishing. This was in the 16th century, and the majority of people couldn't read - not just books but even shop signs. Wynkyn de Worde set up his shop under the 'sign of the sun' and it is this mark which the society uses today.

Throughout the year I have arranged a series of speakers, including Naomi Games, Michael Johnson, Jeremy Leslie, Luke Gifford and Stewart Drew. I also arranged a summer visit to Berlin, which was kindly hosted by Erik Spiekerman.

At the November Luncheon, I was presented by the committee and society with a gift, in thanks for being Chairman. It is this wonderful paperweight, hand-cut in slate by the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop.

Scale - 125mm diameter

David Kindersley, lettercutter, sculptor and inventor, started his workshop near Cambridge in 1946, having been apprenticed to Eric Gill. He was joined in 1976 by Lida Lopes Cardozo, beginning a partnership which lasted until David’s death in 1995. Today, the workshop is run by Lida, his widow, with her husband Graham Beck, it consists usually of two lettercutters and three apprentices.

This beautiful paperweight was made and cut by Hallam Kindersley, David's son

The circle is a universal symbol representing notions of totality, wholeness, the infinite, eternity and timelessness which perfectly links this wonderful piece to me and the past as David Kindersley was Chairman of the society in 1976, and Lida Cordozo Kindersley was Chairman in 1989. A wonderful gift and a great connection with the past and the heritage of the Society.

Below is an interesting interview with David Kindersley from 1976:

http://www.wynkyndeworde.co.uk/

http://www.kindersleyworkshop.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 30.11.2018

Abram Games, Designs with Type

Abram Games is acknowledged as being one of the 20th Century's greatest image makers, his work is now a fascinating record of social history. For over 60 years he produced some of Britain’s most memorable images including the war years as Official War Poster Artist producing over one hundred posters. He was the designer of the Festival of Britain emblem and his clients included the United Nations, London Transport, British Airways, Shell, the Financial Times, Guinness and of course book jackets for Penguin books. He also created the first animated BBC on-screen ident in 1953.

This small booklet was designed to accompany a talk by his daughter, Naomi Games, to the Wynkyn de Worde society.

The size of the publication is A6 (148x105mm) portrait and is saddle stitched. It is a 16pp self cover and is digitally printed (HP Indigo) on our Omnia Natural 120gsm.

Click on images to enlarge

The work in this booklet is a combination of his work before WW2, during WW2 (as the only official War Poster Artist) and his work in peacetime.

Click on images to enlarge

The publication is digitally printed by Typecast Colour, based in Paddock Wood, Kent. It was printed on their Xerox digital press and the result is excellent. The great thing is the job just doesn't look and feel like a digital job, which is mainly down to the choice of substrate.

As a 16pp 'self cover' saddle stitched publication, it sits nice and flat.

Booklet design is by Paul Harpin. Printing is by Typecast based in Paddock Wood in Kent.

I have a few file copies of this publication available, so if you would like one, please drop me an email (justin@fennerpaper.co.uk)

It's also just worth pointing out that the work of Abram Games, along with many other pioneering Jewish émigré designers is being shown in the 'Designs on Britain' exhibition at the Jewish Museum in London until  15th April

https://www.abramgames.com/about
http://www.typecast.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 27.01.2018

De Worde

This is a type sample booklet for a brand new typeface by type designer, Jeremy Tankard. Designed to celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Wynkyn de Worde Society, the De Worde typeface takes inspiration from the italic that the printer publisher Wynkyn de Worde used. He was the first to introduce this letter style to English publishing with his printing of Lucian’s ‘Complures dialogi’ of 1528.

Size of the publication is 255x150mm, portrait and is three hole sewn, in keeping with a style of binding that would have been familiar even in the 16th century ...before the invention of staples!

The cover is printed on our brand new Remake (Smoke) 250gsm from Favini. It is a mid grey with a subtle fleck. Remake is made from the discarded residue of the leather manufacturing process and is a revolutionary example of ‘upcycling’. This unique and innovative paper replaces 25% of wood tree pulp with leather residues.

The text pages are printed on another Favini product called Shiro Echo, white 120gsm which is a 100% recycled range. It has a 'neutral' white shade which is perfect for the reproduction of type. 

Below shows the centre spread with the red thread on the three hole sewing.

Detail showing the binding.

Text is printed two colours, red and black throughout, including the fabulous solid red spreads.  Printed offset litho throughout.

The cover is printed offset litho and hot foil blocked in white and red.

Design is by Alistair Hall at We Made This. Printing is by Typecast based in Paddock Wood in Kent and the hot foil blocking is by Benwells.

http://typography.net/
http://www.wynkyndeworde.co.uk/
http://www.typecast.co.uk/
http://www.benwells.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 17.03.2017

St Bride Student lecture

Yesterday, I attended a lecture day at St Bride's put on for students which was funded by the Wynkyn de Worde Society Charitable Trust. The speakers at the event were Alistair Hall (from We Made This), Sharon King-Chai (an author-illustrator and book designer) and Chris Bounds (from Carter Wong design). There were around a hundred students from universities around the country. I spoke to some from Kingston, University of the Creative Arts and University of Reading.

Alistair Hall gave a special insight into the way that the Ministry of Stories initiative started followed with an amusing set of anecdotes about the Hoxton Street Monster Supplies - truly this is an example of where design has helped changed people's lives for the better - over a thousand children helped with writing every year.  

Sharon King-Chai spoke about her career, from her arrival in the UK to getting work experience, her work designing album covers and her transition into the world of publishing. One slide in particular struck a note with me ...be nice

Doesn't matter who you are - being nice is the right thing. Even when you have to say NO, you can still do it nicely.

I took a few printed examples to show, to inspire students about the quality print work that is out there and what can be achieved.

It was a very interesting day and I'm sure the students that were there found it inspiring and useful. The print workshop was also open which gave people the opportunity to print some letterpress keepsakes to take home.

If you would like to stir the greymatter, how about going to the Type Tuesday event this evening, run by Eye magazine? The archive evening is hosted by Paul Barnes and there are half a dozen speakers talking about their favourite items found in St Brides. You can read about it here: http://www.eyemagazine.com/blog/post/type-tuesday-archive-night-with-paul-barnes and you can buy tickets from Eventbrite - only £12.00. Go on, get out and feed the brain!

http://www.sbf.org.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 08.03.2016

Discussing the individual in type design

In addition to the presentation of his new typeface, this is an opportunity to participate in a discussion with Jeremy Tankard who will be sharing his experiences about some of the key issues influencing the contemporary type design field, not least the survival of an individual practice in an increasingly derivative design world.

In conversation with Catherine Dixon, the intention is to open out an initial dialogue to questions from the audience. Jeremy Tankard is a type designer who set up his own foundry in 1997, following early success in the field of corporate and branding design for leading consultancies including Wolff Olins. His typefaces will be familiar to many, with Corbel now a key system font for the Windows OS and Office Suite of applications. Other popular typefaces include Bliss, Aspect, The Shire Types and Enigma. Catherine Dixon is a designer, teacher and a writer with a certain preoccupation for all things typographic.

Tickets can be bought from www.stbride.org/events.

...go and feed the grey matter - buy a ticket and get involved! (and half the money is going to Charity, as well!) - says Justin

The event is being held at Regent’s Conference Centre in Regent’s Park, London on Wednesday 14th May 2014 at 7pm.

The evening is being presented by St Bride Foundation 
and the Wynkyn de Worde Society and half of the proceeds from the talk will go towards the Wynkyn de Worde Charitable Trust, which funds bursaries and seminars to assist in the education of those in future generations who will be involved in printing and related activities. Over 150 students have benefited from the Trust in the past year, attending events at the Letter Exchange, the Typographic Circle, the Edward Johnston Foundation and St Bride Foundation.

www.stbride.org/events

Posted by Justin Hobson 22.04.2014