This is the first in a monthly series of design book reviews, where I’ll cover the books that really are inspiring to me or are just a great design resource. The books I’ll be covering will range in subjects from graphic design through to arts-related books.
Hand Job : A Catalog of Type by Michael Perry
The Blurb:
In this digital age of computer-generated graphics and technology, it’s refreshing to see a small subset of typographers who still believe in working by hand. and as the popularity of hand-drawn type continue to grow, it is now time to explore and celebrate the work of those typographers whose every letter is a work of art. hand Job collects an incredible universe of Hand-Drawn typography exploring the work of fifty-five typographers and graphic designers who are making new stride by originality of their work and the popularity of their clients.
The Review:
Hand Job is a joy to look through, it is crammed with graphic doodles and little design works of art from cover to cover. The design of the book gives this feeling of having picked up someone’s sketchbook only to find that lots of different designers/artists/typographers have left their lovingly drawn thoughts in it.
It is truly inspiring to look through and within just a few pages your already searching for a pencil or biro to start your own scribbles and drawings. Although the book is called ‘A Catalog of Type’ there are plenty of illustrations weaved among the hand-drawn letter-forms. Featured throughout are invitation designs, poster designs, CD designs all hand-drawn with unique illustrated typography. Some of the pieces featured are true works of art and it really shows what can be achieved with a piece of paper a pen and some imagination.
Use of humour within the drawings through the book is strong, with many little characters, funny phrases and sayings illustrated. A lot of the typography is friendly in feel, with the rough lines and characterful little details adding to the feeling of it being personal, which it is, sometimes its easy to forget that some of the design work featured is drawn by hand as the level of detail is amazing.
It comes as quite a relief to see this kind of design work, in a design industry that is dominated by computer-generated graphic design, typography and imagery. Use of colour and media is also very inventive with some illustrations and typography being drawn straight on to walls, tissues and rough paper.
Overall a great read and one I’ll return to again and again also one that will inspire you to get your pen out and have a scribble!
Find out more about ‘Hand Job’ or you can purchase a copy here
