Finding inspiration from history and my background to reinterpret modern design principles is the basis of my practice as a graphic and type designer. Therefore, my dissertation publication, “how is signwriting present in urban environments in the 21st century West Midlands?”, takes inspiration from the history of my hometown in the West Midlands.
This publication is purposely unbound for a user to take spreads apart and assemble hand-painted a sign, like the scale of those popular in the 19th century in the style of traditional West Midlands signwritiers. This publication is also displayed within my own typeface, Pica Market. Developed with inspiration from Miller and Richard Newspaper Type, market-place signage and signwriting, Pica Market is a legible combination of features which felt appropriate to convey the historical relevance and creativity of this subject.
