Font ❤️ Friday and Other Designery Things #27

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Hello and welcome to new readers.

And who here’s been around since newsletter #1? I appreciate you sticking with me, I hope you find it useful.

What have I been up to since we last spoke…? Well, I met the most awesome type of people in real life. I went to the talk “Adventures in Episodic Type Design” at St Brides. If you love the history of type, you must visit when you’re in London. The evening was with David Jonathon Ross, or “DJR” to his pals.

DJR (yeah, we’re mates now) gave a clever and witty talk on how he started the Font of the Month Club. He finds inspiration for his designs from the past and what he sees around him. I loved what he said, “is it a font or a typeface? Pah, it doesn’t matter… so let’s not get hung up on it.” True say!

Throughout the presentation, he used the font Megascope. Let’s look at Megascope designed by DJR :

It’s inspired by the geometric sans serif Deco-type forms of the 1970s. DJR says, “This style graced many a sci-fi book and album cover in its day, some of which I recently had the opportunity to sift through thanks to a moving sale held at a local used bookstore. The typeface is characterised by little circles in letters like B, P, and R that combine geometric roundness and exaggerated proportions. It also features tight spacing, a consistent diagonal stroke angle, and a variable axis that enlarges the circular forms.”

Technical!

FONTS

Why Fonts Matter
I’ve mentioned this book before, but please do check it out it. It’s by Sarah Hyndman and I met her too! You should have seen my reaction when I did… be cool Ange be cool. I was so excited. She’s one of my type heroes! Sarah was lovely. I honestly left that place smiling and buzzing. Talking about work and type, ahhh the dreamy zzz’s fonts in my sleep. Get the book if you haven’t already.

Last-minute monsters…
You might have a client ask for some last-minute spookily scary fonts. Ya never know. If you need some in a rush, take a look at the Halloween range by Envato. From gothic to comic, you’ll find something here.

DESIGNERY THINGS

Pen History
I wanted to find something that tied in with Black History Month here in the UK.
I found this poster. The Afro-American graphic designer Archie Boston helped shape the redesign and packaging of the Pentel Pen. This was way back. Before computers, designers had to hand draw scamps etc. Archie was also known for being part of the advertising industry in the 60s which was a predominantly white industry. He broke those barriers and set up a firm with his brother. He then went on to design for other agencies where he designed this ad for Pentel. And he featured himself right in the centre of it! Bold, brave move. I love it.

FREELANCING

Do you create vision boards?
Pah! For years I’ve seen people using them. I couldn’t be bothered with it and thought it was a bit “woo woo”. But earlier this year I made one and stuck it on my desk. I looked at it the other day and my word! Most of the “visions” I’d been working on had been happening! Try it – get some magazines and a sheet of paper. Stick or write down what you want to work towards, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Only you will see it. Let me know if it works!

As much as I love sitting at my desk designing, I like to get out and talk to people… So this is where I’ll be next:

Cowork Crew    
Penni and Jo Pickering have set up the Cowork Crew and they’re launching new locations. There’s one on 22nd November in South London with Molly Scanlan as the host. Bring your work, meet other small biz/freelancers and eat cake. Just before lunch, I’ll be doing a talk called “Showing up and looking good: creating a consistent brand”.

You Are The Media   
The marketing community set up by Mark Masters in Poole, is coming to London. YATM Lunchtime Club is on 6th February, to celebrate the opening of the Foundry in Wandsworth. They say: ‘We’re all about that sense of creating a space for people to join and enjoy. Our events bring together like-minded creative business people.’ The overall theme of the event is Creativity and I’m on a panel (see – a speaker!) with three awesome creative people. We’ll have an open conversation around… well, creativity. Tickets for 6th February 2025 are here. And it’s only a tenner!

#FONTLOVEFRIDAY

I’ve done it! I finally got my act together after two years of “hmm… will I, won’t I?” well now I’m doing it. I’ve launched my podcast! Well, the trailer is ready. You can listen to it here and when the episodes are live I can mail you about them. Please sign up. Don’t worry, I won’t bombard you! But I’d love it if you would join me and share.

It is called ‘Creatives Like Us’.  Spotlighting creatives of colour, I’ve always wanted to do something around sharing and helping people be heard - sharing their work. Also to pass on knowledge and inspiration to the next generation.

Have a good one!

Ange 🌈

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