Custom fonts, type, logos and lettering design – a new direction.

I'm trying something new. A new direction in my work (though I'm not done with my day job at www.brandnatural.com just yet): a new blog (this one) and a new way of showing up on social media: custom font, type, logo and lettering design.

I've always wanted to be a type designer. I always have been, I think. My clients all know that their package design and logos have almost always included custom lettering. I just have not talked about it a whole lot. From the time I was 16 years old hand lettering posters for my friends’ bands, I have alway been drawn to letters and the way they subtlety (and sometimes not so subtly) communicate tone and intention. I’ve always loved beautiful things that mostly go unnoticed.

I'm inspired by Josh Lowman and his commitment to post everyday on LinkedIn. I don't know Josh (my partner Tracie Wagam does), but two things struck me about his endeavor.

First the “just show up” approach. It‘s easy to think that a “superbowl ad” type post will change everything, it’s the sexy part of advertising on any platform or channel, but in reality consistency and frequency are equally (if not more) important, and often more difficult, especially for small businesses.

But the real insight is “fuck it! i’m going to be me. I’m going to stop acting like I know everything. Or even a lot. Stop acting like I’m not struggling. Stop acting like I’m not scared. But also stop acting falsely modest. Stop acting like I’m humble when I’m actually proud.”

In a world of marketing systems and fake it ‘til you make schemes, let’s try authenticity and vulnerability. So thank you, Josh Lowman.

So fuck it, let's go. I'm a type designer. I’m going to post, not everyday, but a couple times a week with examples of the fonts, lettering and logos I’m working on, and whatever else pops into my head. Reach out if you have any cool project that involves type. I'm game.

Starting with this medium weight, geometric slab serif “K” with bracketed in the tradition of Beton, and Archer, and Rockwell. Might as well aim high.