Made in Clerkenwell: An Extraordinary Typeface

Neville Brody and Research Studios have always been synonymous with the creation of highly intriguing and innovative type designs. Fuse, a collection (a fusing) of experimental type and design, first released in 2001, was a platform for (type) designers to exhibit and display (and sell) some truly exciting and sometimes downright bewildering type designs.1 Many of which were probably not all that suitable for most of the design projects designers tackle from day to day – but the interesting conceptual underpinnings of Fuse, coupled with the playful, adventurous spirit inherent to 'Mac-exploration' of the era – "hey, you can flip/flop/blur/distort designs on your digital desktop, if you really want to" – made any new arrival from Fuse well worth a look.

But the world of type design has moved on (some would say moved backwards or sidewards somewhat) and gleeful, wild experimentation with type has given way to a newfound sobriety. Helvetica and its Swiss ilk are seemingly everywhere.2

So, when one spies the custom (display) type face designed for a recent arts/design project by Jeff Knowles (from Brody's Research Studios) – it definitely causes one to draw breath.

In short, it is a profoundly beautiful thing...

These vector-based, wiry, faux 3D organic forms capture the notion of growth, generation and development intrinsic to the creative process of artists and designers alike. Plus, in plain language – they just look damn extraordinary(!)

Notes
1. Fuse was devised by Brody in conjunction with Jon Wozencroft for FontShop International. Each thematically linked issue came in a cardboard pack with fonts supplied on a floppy disc and posters displaying each font.

2. And yes, it does make me feel as though I'm living in an airport departure lounge...

Comments

[Carol Higman]

Hi Andrew, Honie

It's about time I had a look at 1+1=3 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Favourite pieces were about Korea of course, where your humour was allowed to peep through. Loved the photographs too. I will bookmark the site and check it out from time to time, now I have finally made the discovery.

Regards
Carol