By: Steven Heller | March 19, 2010

During last Summer’s SVA Masters Workshop in Venice and Rome, in Louise Fili‘s type workshop, Brazilian graphic designer Celina Carvalho found inspiration for making typefaces in some unusual places. “I was drawing iron motifs found in gates, balconies and windows of Venice,” as part of a guidebook assignment, she said. “They inspired me to create letters, which would be the starting point for me to develop unique alphabets.” And so she did. From random pieces of iron work came her series of eclectic yet functional display faces (above suggests the shape of fish which is Venice, and below are patterns and letters that subtly reference Italian Futurism). She produced them in a day. These days, letter designs can be found in almost any physical object. From time to time I will showcase other fanciful letter forms. For now, let’s savor these.
If you are interested in studying with the faculty at this year’s Masters Workshop apply here. (Deadline is April 1)

