The Tephra

So, for those of you who may not know, I teach Graphic Design, and in the course of trying to appear knowledgable to my students I tend to stumble across some rather brilliant designs. According to Eye Magazine, we could be in a Golden Age of type right now, although some designers, including Jeffery Keedy, disagree. Based on what I've seen, I come down more on the pro side of the argument. Although I might throw in a couple of typefaces, this time I'm mainly going to talk about designers experimenting and working with type in beautiful and unusual ways. So, without further ado, my list of current favourite designers are:

No. 1

Serial Cut

No, that's not Photoshop. This is a real, three-dimensional collage. Oh, how I love seeing someone go to the effort to actually make something, and even more when they get it so, so right. This Spanish studio are making a serious Splash (there's a pun in there somewhere) and you should go here to see more.

No. 2

Marian Bantjes

There aren't too many female "rock-star" designers out there, but Marian Bantjes should be one. Who wouldn't love a designer who can make something this beautiful out of sugar? Have you ever tried designing with sugar? Not easy, my friend. There's also a great little animation for Bunch, involving pink fur. Click on her name on the left hand side to view.

No. 3

Alex Trochut

It seems as though lately the Spanish are doing it better... and this Spaniard in particular. Alex Truchot's work spans styles and genres but is always refreshingly innovative and gorgeous. If only every designer could draw custom type like this. Visit his website for more, and here for a lengthy interview.

No. 4

David Torrents

Okay, I've started on the Spanish so I might as well keep going. If colour, line and pattern are your thing, then don't go past the work of David Torrents without taking a close

r look. It's like television test patterns on speed, or something.

No. 5

Julien Vallee

Upstart; bright young thing...whatever your take there's no denying that the work of Montreal-based Julien Vallee, particularly his animation, is clever, fresh and should get ten points just for effort.

No. 6

Mike Perry

Okay, so there's no denying I'm a fan of the latest trend in three-dimensional type, but some of the flat stuff is okay too. But, c'mon kids, let's have some fun with it, like Mike, whose work was recently seen on the cover of Grafik magazine.

No. 7

Strange Attractors

Phew, back to some three-dimensional works by the "International design studio of Ryan Pescatore Frisk and Catelijne van Middlekoop", who should be celebrated just for having such fabulous names. But if that's not enough, then their work is pretty good too.

No. 8

Human Empire

This is not so new, but if you don't know the work of German studio Human Empire, take a look. They're best known for their Morr Music album covers, but have quite an extensive repertoire spanning fashion, advertising and illustration.

No. 9

Evening Tweed

Who would guess this studio was English? Actually, Evening Tweed are a graphic design collective, comprised of Jez Burrows, Owen Gildersleeve, Sarah King and Tom Rowe. This gocco piece of Sarah's, "If I could", and Owen's commission for the New York Times On Language column, are a good indication of what they can do with type.

No. 10

Hoefler&Frere-Jones

This time I'll throw in some real type design, and say thank-you, Hoeffler&Frere-Jones, for the creation of Archer, the "colourful slab serif". It's just plain lovely. And I'd love to know, just how fast did you have to move to score the domain name www.typography.com?

Enjoy, type nerds.