26 Letters

Illuminating the alphabet
Edited by Freda Sack, John Simmons and Tim Rich

An open exploration of the alphabet by some of today’s leading designers and writers.

How often do we think about the individual letters of the alphabet? What are their histories, their personalities, their stories? What does C mean to you? Where did X come from? How does N make you feel?

In 2004, the writing group 26 and the International Society of Typographic Designers joined forces to explore the DNA of language. Twenty-six business writers were randomly paired with twenty-six graphic designers, given one letter each and asked to create a collaborative work that celebrated, explored, questioned, elucidated or subverted that letter. In a series of diary pieces, the pairs wrote about the excitement and frustration, the research and the concepts, the relationships and the techniques that led to the finished works.

Throughout the process, the British Library acted as a resource for information and inspiration, and the resulting exhibition, “26 Letters: Illuminating the Alphabet,” was displayed throughout the library building as part of the London Design Festival.

This book is a celebration of creative partnership based on a neglected aspect of our lives: the twenty-six letters that convey information, express emotion and enable us to function in the world. Amid the variety of contributions, what shines through is a love of letters, their look and their meaning, and the gift of pleasure that they offer to us all.

FREDA SACK is the head of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD).

JOHN SIMMONS is a brands specialist and writer.

TIM RICH is a writer and a founding member of 26.

The writers and designers are from 26 (an association of writers for business) and the ISTD (which establishes typographic standards within the design and education communities).

1-904879-15-2
£14.99 HB
Rights: All
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