Ace Jet 170

Out of stock

Just lovely, but they say..."Owing to unprecedented demand we are out of stock! We are so sorry about this, but please do place back-orders for late August delivery if you are happy to wait".

Worth the wait.

(via createmake/via core77)

Our Director is missing!

It's the question on everyone's lips. It's 4.30pm. The film starts at 6.30pm. Our director is stuck in traffic between Dublin and Belfast.

Eek!

Found Helvetica Friday: Danger of Death

There's a lot of electricity round by us. Loads of it. It's like everyone wants some.

Consequently, the Harbour Estate, where our studio is, is a hazardous place, as expressed through the gift of Helvetica and some funny symbols.

My favourite is, clearly, "Danger of Death". Don't you think that first one is very Saul Bass?

Issue Eight

Back in March I'd posted some pics of Issue Six and Seven and explained how they'd had quite an effect on me when I first saw them. More recently I re-discovered this, the next issue. Designed to a larger (A3) format, the sense of scale is powerful.

I think (and please, anyone who knows better do feel free to correct me) that Cartlidge Levene only designed these three editions of the Design Museum's magazine.

A nice bit of Helvetica don't you think?

Swiss Graphic Design

By happy coincidence I just happen to be reading this book by Richard Hollis. Jay from Things To look At had recommended it on NDG a couple of weeks ago when Ben had asked what basic typographic advice you'd give to students.

Even though I'd already bought it and it was waiting in the To Be Read pile, I thought it might have been too niche in that context. Now I'm half way through it I realise I couldn't have been more wrong. I can't think of any other graphic style/movement that was/is so inclusive. From the Arts and right through all levels of industry the Swiss style works, with dynamism, sensitivity and a super cool but still accessible sense of style - with clarity, purpose and economy at it's heart.

I don't know what other reviews are out there but, to me at least, I get the impression that Hollis ready knows his stuff, taking an extremely useful analytical approach at times.

The cut a long story short, Jay was damn right. This book should be essential reading.

With a predominence of Akzidenz Grotesk, Helvetica's forerunner, the book is lavishly illustrated with graphic design classics as well as more obscure examples you'll struggle to find anywhere else.

The only thing I find disappointing about the book is the rather uninspired cover but as soon as you open it that's forgotten.

The Penrose Annual 1966

Helvetiweek has given me the perfect excuse to retrieve those dusty Penrose Annuals from our loft. They're now installed within easy reach downstairs. Full of interesting things, for now though all you're getting is this ad from Linotype for the mighty H.

I really like that bit about how the font has, "roused great interest in the United States..."; they're so progressive in the New World aren't they?

My stamp collection

I did say, "Helvetica-related" didn't I. This is perhaps the smallest stamp collection ever. It's very focused, the criteria being: a) Swiss, and b) Nice.

Wikipedia explains the use of that word, "Helvetia is the Roman name for an ancient region of central Europe occupying a plateau between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Helvetia corresponded roughly to the western part of modern Switzerland, and the name is still used poetically." The font's name is, of course, a derivative.

Ironically, very few of these actually feature Helvetica. But then, why should they?

I have posted a few of these before, individually, but I thought they might warrant a collective post of their own. My entire collection fits neatly into a Moleskin Pocket Book. There's a few more on Flickr.

It's Helvetica Week!

Here we are then; this Friday Gary Hustwit is popping up the road to show us his film: Helvetica: The Greatest Story Ever Told. And oh, we're so excited!

But if you think we're excited now, just wait until we're at the other end of Helvetiweek.

If anyone's got any amusing Helvetica-related anecdotes or dramatic Neue Haas Grotesk stories, do tell; following last week's request for stuff I've had next to naff-all, except for the rather exciting promise of Neue Grafik spreads from Joe Kral.

So this week I'm going to feature just Helvetica-related stuff and nonsense, with the emphasis on "related", meaning it's not necessarily going to be just a load of Helvetica. I'm hoping it's going to be OK.

Found Type Friday #24

This weeks FTF comes to you courtesy of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

Ever since our oldest boy was able to go, "toot, toot!" we've been going to the Transport part of this museum. I've lost count of how many times we've been but he and now his little brother never tire of the place. It's also only about ten minutes away from where we live.

It's not huge but the road and rail collection is very well formed and brilliantly layed out. There's plenty of things to see, climb on and fiddle with. And of course, what makes it for me is all the lovely, lovely vintage type. Typical of probably every transport museum, it's everywhere.

For once, I thought to take my camera and here are some of the results. The rest are on Flickr.

If anyone would like to contribute to FTF please feel free to email me here.

Helvetica and Fairchild Semiconductor

This is from another poster we're printing for the Helvetica screening. It's by Fairchild Semiconductor. I don't know Mr Semiconductor, or at least I don't think I do, and don't know his work intimately but I really like this poster. I think it's really interesting.

I like it because it's for the screening that we're very excited about and I actually like the look of it. And I like the idea. The message is coded. It's literally coded and it's conceptionally coded in that you have to work out what the hell it's all about and I like that. But it is all there if you look hard enough. It's cunning too but I won't say why, I'll let you work that out (you'll have to download the pdf to see it properly). It's its cunningness that I really like.

Download fairchild_semiconductor.pdf

I should actually say a big public THANK YOU to Northside, our digital printer, for sponsoring the event by taking care of the posters for us. Specifically to Maria for looking after it.

Thanks Maria.

If anyone's interesting in coming to see the film, you can register and buy tickets here.