Happy Friday and hello October! The leaves are turning and the shops already have Christmas bits out (I'm not ready!).
It's been a busy few weeks because I've just finished a new website that I'm really proud of. It's for St Andrew by the Wardrobe, a Sir Christopher Wren church in the City of London. Think of a quiet place in the middle of all that City bustle. Designing for somewhere with that much history made me think very carefully about website type and tied in with the new branding I designed. Which brings me neatly to this month's font...
Font of the month: Gloock
Gloock is a high-contrast serif which means big chunky strokes sit right next to very thin ones. It was designed by Duarte Pinto, a graphic designer from Portugal. It first appeared in 2022 and it's now a free Google Font.
It takes its inspiration from old newspaper headlines but with a contemporary twist. That mix is why it felt right for a historic church that still wants to welcome people in today. It has gravitas and warmth without looking stuffy.
It's free for personal and commercial use too, which is always a win for small business budgets. Have a look and read more here.
Fun fact: the church is named after the King's Great Wardrobe, which was based nearby. Not a place to hang your coat!
Now time for...
FONTS
A type of listen Laura Edralin hosts the Life of Letters podcast on the history and future of calligraphy, lettering and sign writing, plus much more. She has guest interviews who share their creativity and insights into the world of lettering. Give it a listen.
Newsletters of fonty goodness Don’t leave me, of course, but I am going to recommend 2 newsletters that I have not unsubscribed from (and I have had a cull). First up is The League of Moveable Type. A weekly with lots of typeface suggestions. The second newsletter is Font Friday! I know, nearly the same as this one. Brought to you by Oliver Schöndorfer from ‘Pimp my Type’. He has a brilliant YouTube channel too.
DESIGNERY THINGS
Type of objects A fun one for you. The Horniman Museum in the UK has created its own typeface based on the artefacts it holds. You can read more about it here and have a look at the rest of the alphabet. Here are some posters to tease you in.
Credit: It's Nice That
Including everyone Image libraries have had a lot to answer for over the years. You know the business handshake - it means business. The robot AI as a human with silver shell and blue eyes. Anyway, you know what I mean. If your next project needs to include diversity, please take a look at All In Frame. A free image bank for diverse photos which includes real-life disability. The website also has alt text for all the images as well as an easy copy button. Accessibility in action!
FREELANCING/BIZ TIPS
Be your own cheerleader Enter awards. Nominate yourself. Gain kudos - say you are award-winning. I do!
That's all for this month! I hope you found something useful, whether it's a new typeface to try or a reminder that history and fresh design can sit very happily together. I’m glad it’s the weekend - I’m about to delete all social media apps and stay away from the screen for a few days. In desperate need of a digital detox! How about you - chilling for the weekend?
Whatever you do have a good one! Ange
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