It's not often that we have time to read books, what with a toddler, a 7 month old baby and a business to run, but while looking for inspiration for Roost Living I came across a book all about fonts.

Fonts are all around, but when was the last time you stopped to think about who designed them and why.  What do the fonts we choose say about us? Simon Garfield's book, Just my Type, is a a fascinating look at the history of fonts from Helvetica to the horrific Comic Sans...and it is a really great read too!

Fond of font

It’s no secret that Comic Sans is much frowned upon - ask any graphic designer and watch as their face recoils at the utterance of such 'swear words'. So what's considered an artful choice when it comes to font? 

We’ve been having a little look around and have fallen head-over-heels with the following fine examples of typography. 

We're big fans of the artist Rory Dobner's work (take a peek here and you'll see). This logo design he crafted portrays just how beautiful type can be. 

Yes, classic typewriter-style font may have been done-to-death, but add realistic inky blotch marks (and a home-truth quote) and you'll have us swooning. 

Helvetica

Clean, sharp and impactful this font doesn't mess about - possibly the reason it's so often chosen for brand logos.

What fonts are you a fan of?

Mr. Smith’s Letterpress Workshop

Just before Christmas, we took a wander down to Portobello Dock where Tom Dixon (furniture and lighting designer and ex Habitat Head of Design) was hosting ‘The Dock Christmas’ - a mini food and design market. It was here that we were introduced to Mr. Smith and his Letterpress workshop.

Letterpress printing, where a reversed, raised surface is inked before pressing it on to paper, was widely used for printing books and other media during the 15th - 19th centuries. Today, you’re more likely to see the individual letter stamps at antique markets or fairs, sold for all manner of uses - we think they make for wonderful home décor when not in use.

Mr. Smith dedicates his time to this craft of yesteryear by running print workshops that use the original letterpress methods. If you’d like to try your hand at the craft, email: mrsmith@letterpress-workshop.com or call +44 (0)78 6625 8171 to book a spot at the next workshop.