Top Ten Typefaces used by Book Design Winners 2008 …

The American Association of University Presses (AAUP) holds an annual Book, Jacket & Journal Show which catalogs the best in book design and exhibits it around the USA.

1. Minion - Robert Slimbach, 1990/2000

2. ITC New Baskerville - John Baskerville and John Quaranda, 1706-1775/1974

3. FF Scala - Martin Majoor, 1999

4. FF Scala Sans - Martin Majoor, 1999

5. Adobe Garamond - Claude Garamond and Robert Slimbach, 1989

6. Trade Gothic - Jackson Burke, 1948

7. Electra - William Addison Dwiggins and Linotype staff, 1935/1994

8. Fournier - Pierre Simon Fournier and Monotype staff, 1742/1924

9. Dante - Giovanni Mardersteig and Ron Carpenter, 1957/1993

10. DIN - Albert-Jan Pool, 1995

Acknowledgement: fontfeed.com

Yogurt on My Boots by Oscar John Jones

The second volume of Oscar Jones' autobiographical trilogy. The cover continuing the theme.

Aquarius Arising by Oscar John Jones

The first volume of an autobiographical trilogy by Oscar Jones. The cover was designed to give the feel of the old Penquin paperbacks. The text was supplied as Word pages by the author.

Favourite Typeface: Gill Sans

Originally designed by Eric Gill for the London & North Eastern Railway for all their signage, advertising and timetables.

Eric Gill (1882-1940)

Gill was born in Brighton, the son of non-conformist minister. While apprenticed to an architect in London, he became smitten with the world of calligraphy, which he entered by attending classes given by Edward Johnston. He was profoundly influenced by Johnston's dedicated approach to work and decided to join the world of the Arts and Crafts.

During his lifetime he set up three self-sufficient religious communities where, surrounded by his retinue, he worked as sculptor, wood-engraver, and type designer. He also wrote constantly and prodigiously on his favourite topics: social reform; the integration of the body and spirit; the evils of industrialisation; and the importance of the working man. He converted to Catholicism in 1913 and this influenced his sculpture and writings. He designed his first typeface, Perpetua, for Stanley Morison who had badgered him for years on this matter. Of all the 11 typefaces that he designed, Gill Sans is his most famous; it is a clear modern type and became the letter of the railways - appearing on their signs, engine plates, and timetables.

Gill described himself on his gravestone as a stone carver.

Reference: www.identifont.com

Favourite Typefaces - Spectrum

Designed by Jan van Krimpen. A lovely, crisp font which makes an excellent display font for invitations and book text. Originally designed for a new bible being planned by Spectrum, a publishing house based in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Jan van Krimpen (1892-1958)

Born in Gouda, van Krimpen was a calligrapher, book designer, and type designer. His typefaces are regarded as restrained, beautiful, and classical. His designs are very influential, though they are not widely used. His most famous typeface is Lutetia, which is based on his own handwriting. Jan van Krimpen spent nearly all his working life at the great Haarlem printing house of Joh. Enschedé. He had been working as a designer of lettering on stamps when he was noticed by the head of Enschedé. Enschedé commissioned a new typeface from him in 1923 and thus Lutetia was born. According to Beatrice Warde, van Krimpen was the most difficult designer the Monotype Printing Works had ever had the misfortune to deal with. In his work, as in his temperament, he inclined towards reticence and severity, with fastidious attention to detail.

Reference: www.identifont.com

All for Norway by Gerald Harris

Cover design for a biography. The inside pages already being laid out in Microsoft Word. Printed by Beacon Printers Ltd and perfect bound by Abbey Bookbinding Ltd.

My Other Mother by Suzanne Greenslade . . .

Another square format design. This time for a catalogue for an exhibition of photographs during Black History Month 2009. The book was designed to display the photographs along with a short description. Text in Gill Light, headings in Gill Medium. Printed digitally by Beacon Printers Ltd and perfect bound by Abbey Bookbinding Ltd.

The Golden Section . . .

The Golden Section is widely regarded as the most aesthetically pleasing layout of a page. There are many variants but the proportions are fundamentally similar.

Phyllis Lawson by Herbert E Roese

A short biography of the artist, Phyllis Lawson. Designed by myself as a square format coffee table book. A short run printed digitally by Beacon Printers Ltd and perfect bound by Abbey Bookbinding Ltd. Typeset in Spectrum and Agenda, two column layout with numerous plates.