Revive: Type Specimen Book
Challenge
Create a type specimen book for an Adrian Frutiger typeface, including three chapters: about the designer, the typeface specimen, and type anatomy. The book was printed and bound by hand at the end of the project.
Process
I chose the typeface Centennial, and went with a mid-century modern furniture catalog as a theme. Like Centennial, mid-century modern is simple and clean yet organic and beautiful. Also, Centennial is traditionally used for print, such as in magazines, so a furniture catalog theme makes sense. The design uses flat, simple shapes to add color and match the mid-century modern aesthetic. The color palette was based on the bright, playful colors of the movement.
Process
Each spread has some kind of imagery of furniture, usually with the background removed. This technique keeps the book simple and clean. Like an actual catalog, each piece of furniture has a label with a number code, except each number also has significance to the subject of the book and a small caption explaining that significance. The physical book’s cover has fabric swatches on the inside front flap to further sell the furniture catalog theme.
Results
The final result of the project is a 52-page type specimen book, at a final size of 8×8 inches, that brings the two themes (mid-century modern design and the typeface Centennial) together seamlessly. The book also received a gold AAF award in the regional student division.
