Graphic Journey Blog

Things are looking up

On walls, in doorways, along Mews and alleyways, the past is all around us – in typography. This little collection snapped in Bloomsbury…

And there are dozens more. Just look around your neighborhood.

Personal journal: Early influences

I bought this book in 1961 (Oh no, not the 60s again!) ...

It cost me more than my week’s wages. But I loved every page of it. I learned a lot. Here's some more...

It was by Aaron Burns (1922-1991) American Graphic Designer, Art Director and typographer. He was President and Co-founder of ITC (the International Typeface Corporation). And he's up there in the New York Art Directors Club ‘Hall of Fame’. He was the editorial director of U&lc (the publication Upper and lower case) among many other posts he held in the world of international typography. Burns wrote this book to show the new function of modern typography, and the factors that contribute to its development. And here are two other books I bought a few years later…

Sadly 'Graphics Britain' only managed 2 editions. Well, after all that academia here is some light relief…

Mr Bailey perhaps? And I woke up this morning to this...

beautiful dappled light on my roller blind...

Making it real

Long before Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino displayed a talent for the ‘buddy style’ ensemble of actors, the independent film maker and actor John Cassevettes

was laying the foundations for this genre of movie making. His films ‘Shadows’ 1959...

‘Faces’ 1968 , ‘Husbands’ 1970 and ‘A Woman Under The Influence’ 1974...

were all tour de forces' in employing improvisation and the ‘method’ approach to acting. This created a believability that few Hollywood movies could deliver. His regular ensemble of actors; Ben Gazzara , Peter Falk and wife, Gena Rowlands gave performances that delved deep into their own subconscious, creating total authenticity. Shooting mostly on 16mm black and white stock, Cassavettes films have an extraordinary impact that still hold up decades after they were made.

Sam Serif # 2

Personal journal: A family affair

I have always driven small cars. I just prefer them. Now of course this is becoming increasingly the norm. Fuel costs and environmental concerns are forcing people to think far more seriously before shelling out on that all important mode of transport – unless you’re Jeremy Clarkson that is. Last year my sons, Ben and Joe Dempsey, made a short film for the ‘Live Earth’ project and was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in LA. It’s called ‘School Run’. Take a lookThe message is simple, but very effective. Oh yes, and the little girl acting in it is my daughter. So this post is unashamedly nepotistic.

Jemima Dempsey in 'School Run'.

Tom Eckersley: A simple man

Often graphic design is about reduction – Getting to the essence. One man who spent his entire professional life doing just that is Tom Eckersley RDI (1914 to 1997). Here are four wonderful examples of his minimal approach to graphics…

To see a lot more of Tom’s work go to the London Transport Museum. Or click here and here. And lastly at Paul Rennie's - who has a special connection with Eckersley .

Out there

I’ve been out on the mean streets of London, snapping away, while stabbings go unabated. Now why did I think of Sweeny Todd when I saw this?

And isn’t this the height of sophistication in signage...

Two street artists strike again.

Because he's worth it

My favorite actor in one of the great films of the 20th century - 'On The Waterfront' directed by Elia Kazan 1954.

Cutting it

This is a friend of mine. Her name is Zoë Cull and she is a letter cutter...

This is her raw material...

Here she is working in her studio - not a mouse or Mac in sight...

Letter cutting is one of the last bastions of the hand and eye craft with true physicality. It can be tough work. But the end result has a delicate beauty that will last for centuries. Zoë is based in the heart of Hardy country, Dorset. Do you remember those days when every graphic designer traced off his or her lettering by hand? Zoë still does...

and she loves this part of the process. She subtly alters each character to suite the space...

It’s a question of feel and balance. Every project is unique. She created this for my house on a lovely piece of Welsh slate...

And she carved one of my favorite Shakespeare quotes – ‘We are such stuff 
As dreams are made on, and our little life Is rounded with a sleep’ - from ‘The Tempest’- into Portland stone, for my fireplace...

I never tire of it. You can see more of Zoë’s work at stoneform...

It is wonderful that this craft is still being cherished by a new generation of letter cutters. Long may it flourish. Zoë and her partner Alex are planning to run some workshops later this year. So forget that letterpress class and get in touch with the origins of lettering. if you happen to be in or near Salisbury do visit the New Arts Centre at Roche Court. A wonderful out door sculpture park, and currently there is an exhibition, 'Riddles in Stone' in which Zoë has a lovely peice.

Smorgasbord

In 2000 I attended an Alliance Graphique International (AGI) get together. It was in Pontresina, Switzerland – and lovely it was too. I found these old snaps in my chaos, that I laughingly call filing …

The posters do look good against that crisp snowy Swiss backdrop.

And here’s a beautiful piece from 1974 by Lois Ehlert to promote the Milwaukee County Zoo...

I wonder what they have now? No, no! Don’t look, you’ll be horrified.