On Sunday, I wrote a post regarding the 3D-printed letterpress font that Dan and I saw at the V&A for The London Design Festival (if you missed it, read it here) I told you that I will be updating my blog when Adrian Harrison’s film is released. Alas, it has been uploaded. Originally uploaded and announced by Creative Review, you can see Adrian’s short film here on his vimeo and you can also see the other cool projects that he’s been working on, such as the Joby Carter signwriter I mentioned in my previous post.

Go and check him out.

The London Design Festival 13-21 September 2014

Today found Dan and I at The London Design Festival at the V&A.

Yesterday whilst checking Design Taxi, I noticed a really cool article about 3D printed type. Instantly interested, I had a read and showed this to my colleague Ben, who has just built a 3D printer, see his tweets here. He also printed me a letter R which you can see on my Instagram here. He's looking for new little projects and cool things to print whilst he's prototyping and learning to built design in CAD.

After a little research into this cool little project, I realised it was The London Design Festival 13-21 September 2014. We looked online and I instantly knew that we should be attending this short film held at the V&A.

Before that though, whilst checking out this really cool 3D typeface project, I was led onto a Vimeo page of Adrian Harrison. I was watching a film he made on 'Learn to Sign Write' with Joby Carter who is a traditional signwriter and sign restorer. His work is truly inspiring. I remember for my birthday a couple of years ago, asking for a couple of sign writing books to pick up this fantastic art form after watching David Adrian Smith create something similar with glass. I found him after researching who did John Mayer's intricate album cover for his 'Born and Raised' album. I was blown away by this incredible skill. I still have yet to get round to digging out my signwriting books and making a start but I hope to soon as I've been so inspired.


So, back to today. Dan and I headed our way to the room in the V&A and noticed the guys were giving an extra screening of the film at 1pm - perfect timing! They had the 3D printed typeface on the desk and Beatrice from the New North Press was creating some prints in front of us. It was a pleasure just watching it. Shortly after sitting down, the film was played, introduced by Adrian Harrison. I was thinking "Where do I know that name? I know that name!" before realising is was the film-maker who created the short film for Joby Carter the day previous. Awesome sauce. The film was fantastic and Richard Ardagh talked through his idea about bringing the old letterpress with the new 3D printing technology which is now taking off and being used reasonably wildly. Richard went through the initial idea to the prototyping, with the font designed by A2-Type and 3D-printed by Chalk Studios and through to final testing and adding it to the thousands of typefaces they store at New North Press as an actual working font. This film, this work reminded me of why I got into design. Why I was excited. I found it exciting. It reminded me of the work experience at Newton Press Ltd a couple of years ago when I was still studying. I was learning about the old letterpress machinery, from the heidelberg's to the new Presstek 34DI digital offset printing press.

After the short film, Dan and I got chatting to Adrian and I told him I'd seen his previous films. We were chatting about his current work and some exciting projects he's got coming up. I'll be posting his short film about the A23D, a 3D-printed letterpress font when it's published on his Vimeo.

After having a good old chinwag with these very talented people, I even got the chance to letterpress my own initial with their 3D printed typeface. Absolutely so chuffed.

I cannot get over how creative and refreshing this idea is. I'm throughly impressed and it's great there are so many talented individuals in this project. Check out the New North Press's website for more info.

Thanks to all those there today who inspired me.

Typewriter!

I took photos of my new typewriter but then completely forgot to upload them!

My tutor told me about this typewriter for sale in a charity shop, it just needed the ribbon changing- and it was only £20- Bargain!

It's a Daro Erika Typewriter- It's not too old but it smells vintage and old. I've already completed one project on it (photos to come soon) and I have another project which has been chosen for an exhibition- my 'Fish and Man' piece which was created using an Oliver Typewriter.

I wrote a letter to two of my girlfriends Laura and Fran and one to Sam Winston, of whom replied and we had a good old chat- it's worth writing to designers! I'm hoping to go down to London in the New Year to do a placement with him. Check him out, he's fantastic.

(apologies for the out of focus photograph)

It came with the original beautiful leather case, manual and instructions.

My letter to Sam Winston

If you ever get the chance to buy a cheap typewriter- buy one. They make little grifts far more personal and cute. They're gorgeous pieces of machinery, beautifully crafted and made.

Lomography | Print piece

Lomography is a Magazine, a Shop, and a Community dedicated to analogue photography. It is a fun, and thrilling opportunity to put life back into photography, igniting a new style of artistic experimental photography for everyone. Photographers who use digital cameras generally have a tendency to delete unflattering images and then upload them onto a social network site.  Some may even store them onto their computer and remain there for many years without being viewed again. Lornography results in having the film developed into tangible photographs that you can hold in your hands. Having the film developed means the photographs are not viewed as they are taken and therefore waiting for the results can be more exciting. The photographs can then be put in frames, put on walls or albums so they can be viewed over and over again.

Lomography is not currently reaching out to a broader audience of older people and even some young people. Lomography can be used by all sorts of different people so it doesn’t matter what your age, profession or style is. The slogan of the campaign is ‘How do you use yours?’ asking a direct question to the audience. With this in mind I have created 10, 10 second adverts to reach out to all types of different people with very different skills, backgrounds and hobbies. I have also created a print piece, which highlights the 10 lomography prophecies also including a little introduction to Lomography. The idea of Lornography means that people are able to use the camera to take situations and opportunities that are suited and personal to the user.

I can't put up the adverts but I can show you my print piece. See below!

It's made entirely out of one A3 sheet which folds out and is carefully folded. All photography is my own.

Newton Press Old Print

Another promotional video for Newton Press Ltd featuring the 9810 ABDICK print machine.

This is the oldest method of print they use here other than the heidelburg which is based in their Spalding agency.

Thanks to Cliff for letting me video his great work (and getting in the way a lot.)