Type-OH! Issue One

The publication featuring typography across cultures

BERLIN

Volume One | Issue One | 19 May 2017

PROJECT Type-OH! is an MFA project, which focuses on culture within a city through its typography.

How exactly does typography define a city? Its inhabitants and subcultures create a visual jungle of diverse use of letterforms and iconography, of colours and words, all of which represent a city and its people. This is the stuff Type-OH! is seeking. We want to delve into the depths of a city and find out where its creative roots are and how residents and outsiders perceive it.

The first city to fill the premiere issue is BERLIN. This is a city which breathes creativity and vibrancy. Because of this, so many people have contributed to the publication, giving us a varied point of view. It’s absolutely amazing! Contributors from Manchester, the US, Germany and Hungary have all allowed us to use their work in the pages of Type-OH! Additionally, an Instagram account has been used and linked to this project for wider exposure and call-outs for future issues. The hype is real.

From future successes on the Berlin issue(s), Type-OH! will evolve to travel to other cities to identify and provide visual stories of culture from around the world!

Enjoy the publication!

Thank you to our first issue’s contributors! You can find each of them on Instagram or on their website, so be sure to give them a follow!

Interested in contributing to Type-OH!? Check out the back page for details on how you can contribute for future issues.

Ash van Dyck

@ashvandyck

Aimee English

@aimeeenglish

Teighlor Wigley

@t.wigz

Ulysse di Meglio facebook.com/ulycycle Thea Lucock

@bumblenups

Beth Post

bethpostdesign.com

Dorish Reissermayer @hellocyan1 Marouchka Payen @bartleboooth Yvat & Klerb

@yvatandklerb and www.y-k.it

Maximilian Pazak @mr_millian

2 20

This traditional letterform paired with a bright and eye-catching orange, draws any passersby to stop and read the message.

Based upon the serifed letterform, it easily appears to a non-German speaking viewer to be of importance. What do you think?

(Translation): “As you roam the world, you will come to the conclusion that all progress is based on bondage and cooperation, but the result is that there is enmity and hatred.�

Ash van Dyck @ashvandyck

3 20

Even today, the public transportation of Berlin still features traditional Blackletter typography, despite its history. It’s a gorgeous letterform, especially in the capitals!

4 20

Aimee English @aimeeenglish

Photobooths are scattered all throughout Berlin. You can find them in use by travelers, students, even residents. Using Helvetica, the city was wise in understanding what would be most legible for the widest range of user.

Teighlor Wigley @t.wigz

5 20

Grafitti is everywhere in Berlin. Since the Berlin Wall, citizens have used grafitti as a form of expression and political protest. After the fall of the Wall, residents and visitors have continued the practice of painting the city and making Berlin a vibrant place to be.

Also... apparently shop owners are responsible to pay to remove the grafitti from their buildings, so they chose to save a bit of money and forego coverups. Additionally, there’s not currently a regulation on grafitti, so artists are free to make their mark!

6 20

(facing page, top to bottom:)

(this page, clockwise from top:)

Ulysse Di Meglio

Beth Post

www.facebook.com/ulycycle/

bethpostdesign.com

Beth Post

Ash van Dyck

bethpostdesign.com

@ashvandyck Beth Post bethpostdesign.com

7 20

This is the epitome of handmade typography.

Constructing the curves of the letters “U” and “C” in completely different ways presents dramatically different outcomes, yet each letterform is legible and readable. Had the designer of this sign used stencils or other tools to keep the letters so straight?

Thea Luckcock @bumblenups

8 20

The Bauhaus Archives are likely the museum on every designer’s top-10 list! The influence of the Bauhaus movement was one that connected all forms of creative artists, emphasising the need for unity between design and its execution. This typeface shown was created

by Herbert Bayer in the 1920s. Alongside this design, called Universal Bayer, another popular geometric typeface emerged: Futura!

Aimee English @aimeeenglish

9 20

There is so much going on here, it’s absolutely gorgeous! What an over-stimulation of culture and typography! One thing that was always repeated in studies, time and time again, was to limit your type families to TWO per design.

Um...

Although, the red type to the right is reminiscent of even retro-Americana handpainted signage, so we’ll give this type rule a pass this one time.

10 20

Marouchka Payen @bartleboooth

11 20

Set against a traditional German street, this lamp post features quite a collection of colours, imagery and, of course, typography. The best bits are the handlettering of “BERLIN” fixed adjacent to the type family of Cooper Black, which is used in promoting a German 90s-grunge clothing provider. The style of this clothing in no way reflects the fun and cheerful letterform of Cooper Black. Quite the oxymoron, but proof that typography matters, as the image behind “Heroin Kids” is dark and rather risqué – giving the viewer a possible double-take.

Maximilian Pazak @mr_Millian

12 20

The letters featured in this U-bahn station are certainly humanist, as the letterforms of the “a” and the “t” both closely resemble sans serif letters as they would appear with a calligraphy pen. Overall, the letters have a playful and geometric form, easily readable even for tourists.

Yvat and Klerb @yvatandklerb / www.y-k.it

13 20

This sign has letterforms that are reminiscent of both handpainted signage from yesteryear and modern lettering popular today. The marriage of these two forms presents a hip and eye-catching sign for a quaint cafĂŠ.

Teighlor Wigley @t.wigz

14 20

Handlettering in its finest form! Stating “Free room for hero Snowden”, this sign might represent characteristics specific to German handwriting with the crossbar in the “Z” and the missing tail in the “ü”. Either way, it’s always refreshing to come across handwriting from different cities, and inherently, different cultures.

Ash van Dyck @askvandyck

15 20

Similar to the characteristics of the letterform from a previous photo stating, “Hermannplatz”, this letterform carries an almost primary school typographic form, with it’s perfect arches, even crossbars, and open counters. However, the ß is incredibly 20s, in relation to type families like Futura and Universe Bayer. Can you identify this typeface?

Beth Post bethpostdesign.com

16 20

Found art in Berlin often features an elaborate mix of symbols and imagery. In this photo, type conquers all! What is the artist trying to say with overlays of ampersands, serif and slab serif fonts? Perhaps it’s a political statement against corporations? We’re in the process of identifying the artist, so perhaps we’ll have an answer to our questions soon!

Doris Reissermayer @hellocyan1

17 20

Typography is part of your every day life that you just may overlook the most gorgeous and unique letterforms. In this image, the ears on the letter “g” add ornamentation to such a common word. Nearly vertical, the ear makes the “g” appear as a pendant on a necklace or something organic growing in nature.

Absolutely stunning and easily this month’s favourite letterform!

Teighlor Wigley @t.wigz

18 20

The simplest photos can capture the widest range of typography. Seen here, in the center of the photo, you have matching modern “V’s” on a storefront. In contrast, and fighting for equal attention, “We Have Coffee” is a geometric form with equal widths of strokes which add to the overall contemporary (and almost futuristic) atmosphere within the hallway.

Teighlor Wigley @t.wigz

19 20

Be a part of a collective project!

Type-OH! is having a call for submissions for our future issues! Interested in being part of a type culture? YES! We’re looking for photos of typography from around the world!

We’ve made it easy for you to contibute: use #typeohpublication on Instagram, or email us your photos at typeohpublication@ gmail.com We look forward to hearing from you!

bethpostdesign.com | bethpostdesign@gmail.com