Product Range Distribution: Colophon Foundry

Five Years is a type specimen documenting 26 typefaces made between 2009 and 2014 by Colophon type designers Anthony Burrill, Benjamin Critton, Alison Haigh, Oscar & Ewan, Studio Makgill, The Entente and Dried Wiewauster. The interesting thing about this type specimen is that instead of showcasing the type flat on the page, the multiple typefaces have been showcase 'in context' on different objects such as ash trays, fruit stickers and bags (see figures 1-3). This from of presentation gives a new dimension to each typeface allowing the characteristics of the type to be shown in a new and interesting way as readers can see how the type could be implemented across different media. The combination of showing small sections of the typefaces as flat type (see figures 4-5) in a traditional format allows for the reader to see the type in a simple format to analyse the specific characteristics of the type. The concept behind the specimen is particularly interesting to me as it questions what a type specimen should be allowing for an interesting and refreshing outcome to be created.

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