Image from Blueberry Forest Toys
I’m pretty sure there was a time when those alphabet blocks were to me the most fascinating, most intriguing things ever! The letter E must have been mysterious, and distinguishing it from F challenging. And learning to spell C-A-T, well, that must have been a proud moment. But I can’t remember. I’m now so immersed in the day-to-day sea of words that I often take the letters for granted and hardly pay attention to them.
And so it’s just awesome to (re)discover that childhood wonder and be reminded of the beauty of every single letter in the alphabet–thanks to the artists and designers who come up with typefaces and the different products and art forms inspired by type.
Words convey meaning, but there’s tons of meaning too–non-verbal, emotional, and sometimes purely aesthetic–contained in the individual characters themselves, expressed eloquently through serifs, lines, curves, and flourishes–or lack of them. There’s subtext in the use of block type or script, bold or italic, grungy or kiddy.
I get a little tingly when I see type in places I don’t expect to find it, or where they’re used in strange new ways. And when they’re as fabulously executed as the typography in these images, I get a lot thrilled.
Alphabet drawers from Kent and London
From stephaninja.wordpress.com
Image from snullemor.blogspot.com
Sans Serif Typography Wood Wall Art by peppersprouts on Etsy
This gorgeous necklace says “Eat Life / Shine Bright / Create Contradiction” in Arabic. From Stereo.type collection, a typographic jewelry collaboration of jewelry designer Mona Ibrahim & graphic designer Ebon Heath
This one says “Once upon a time in a land far far away.” also from Stereo.type
From Set 26
"White Hand Type" by DryBones90 at deviantart.com
Typography Soap Bar from The Soap Lab
Eames chairs with quotes from the designers. From ilovedust.com
Memento lamp designed by Hiroshi Yoneya and Yumi Masuko for tonerico-inc.com
Suede scarf from Little Factory
And now for a little comic relief… Watch some fonts duke it out in these videos.
I can’t even choose a favourite here. What finds – The jewelry! the alphabet drawers! the lamp! the scarf!!… swoon.
My favorite is the alphabet drawers.
After visiting Morocco, I became so enamoured with the Arabic alphabet. Those necklaces are so unique and beautiful; I love how the swirl of the design matches the curl of the letters.
The lovely swirly Arabic characters do look awesome in the necklaces! And it’s great that you’ve been to Morocco–I’ve never visited, but I’ve always wanted to go.
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