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Looking for Lettering in Brooklyn

In 2004 The NY Times visited the Gotham typeface, inspired by the sans-serif types seen on facades all over the city. Taking a closer look at the city's fonts, just last week AIGA published an article by Paul Shaw tracing the typography in Brooklyn. While he states no borough has the kind of lettering you'll find in Manhattan, Brooklyn is the closest you'll come despite it's "varying patterns" of growth and decay. Font-finders will notice the best lettering in commercial and industrial areas "since the buildings there have names, mottoes and other inscribed lettering as well as more obvious signage" (think Domino). Residential areas can also offer up some gems though, especially if there are 19th century and art deco buildings on the block.

2008LRTTERING.jpg
Paul Shaw's photos from Park Slope

Shaw spent last year surveying Brooklyn, and in the article he walks you through the many steps he took and many fonts he photographed. Pictured are some of our favorites, but we highly recommend taking the full journey here. [Via Brooklynometry]

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Comments [rss]

  • r_friend

    Re: the sans serif comment--

    I think the article was only referring to the lettering that inspired the sans serif typeface "Gotham", and not implying that all of these examples were sans serif.

  • Kevin Walsh

    Marvelous article: great, great stuff there...

    www.forgotten-ny.com

  • sarahjenny

    Correction, these are Serif--not Sans Serif.

  • r_friend

    These are some of the wonderful little things that inspire designers--thanks for sharing!

    Now, if only some film poster designers would take note... Maybe they'd stop setting everything in Trajan.

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