Showing Type

This illustrated essay explores the idea of the type specimen historically as a way of contextualising issues surrounding the production of a type specimen within the current markets. The essay’s critical contribution is to broaden the limited commercial description of specimen material typical within the field by drawing together a range of perspectives. The type specimen is interrogated not only as design object and branding exercise but also in terms of its role within academic scholarship and as a tool of craft-based discipline and trade. A functional link is made with the other lettering trades of stone-cutting and calligraphy. In 'Showing Type' I was able to explore the relationship between technology and the contemporary market, discursively outlining issues relating to the idea of the artefact within the increasingly intangible context of online product design. Located within a type specimen itself, this writing intentionally plays with traditions of design and scholarship within the commercial typographic sphere. A model for authoritative information-giving as a reinforcement of quality and worth borrowed from early twentieth century specimen examples is here reworked to explore appropriately the ideas of 'value' and 'collectability' reflected through the idiosyncratic use of a book format