Letters from The Northern Block: June 2024 Round-up
Over the last six months, we’ve added several new fonts to our library. In April and June, Zabawa and Mynor-B were featured in Creative Boom’s ‘The best new typefaces from leading foundries and designers’. The mythical Markus Low typeface, alongside Facto and Planer, has been upgraded to version 2.0. We’ve also been applying the final touches to our next release, Nurom Next — a true collaborative project, shaped by an international team over the last decade.
In other news, we partnered with Supply Family to distribute a selection of our fonts, including the popular Syke Mono type family. Angusta was recently announced as a ‘Design Finalist’ at the Hiiibrand Awards and featured in the January/February 2024 Typography Annual by Communication Arts, following a win at the Typography Competition. Type Directors Club published Fagun in ‘The World’s Best Typography’ Annual, which showcased winners from the TDC69 competition. Our Senior Type Designer, Tasos, was appointed as a Greek Script Specialist at the GRANSHAN Competition, and our Head of Brand, Donna, was invited by Northumbria University to deliver 1-to-1 sessions to students of the graphic design course.
Uniquely destroyed and boldly re-made.
When The Northern Block challenged themselves to push the boundaries of an existing typeface, you wouldn’t imagine that work would involve ripping a 1950s-inspired geometric typeface to literal pieces, and then applying Japanese-Jazz-inspired repair surgery. But that’s exactly what happened. The diversity and individuality found within the Mynor-B typeface, as a result, is no surprise.
Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, Mynor-B celebrates imperfections and introduces expressive elements into the letterforms, echoing the beauty found in repaired pottery. This philosophy inspired Mynor-B’s departure from the strict geometric style of its predecessor, Mynor, towards a more organic and imperfect design approach.
Mynor-B carves out a unique identity, with Bounty Hunters, Creative Boom and The Brand Identity all featuring the typeface.
A re-imagination of Basilea, with classical Romanesque forms.
Based on Swiss designer Markus Low’s award-winning 1965 serif typeface, Basilea, The Northern Block’s Markus Low typeface pays respect to classical Romanesque forms without being overwhelmed by history. Instead, it steers toward a contemporary aesthetic with a great stroke contrast, producing graceful, fluid lines. The outcome is a modern display serif with subtle chisel-like details.
Markus Low is as mythical as it is modern. Whether you’re dealing in books, cosmetics, menus or movies, this typeface will allow you to offer your audience variety, while protecting the integrity of your own visual language and brand experience.
A perfectly imperfect handwritten typeface.
Zabawa is the result of an exciting collaboration between Polish type designer Joanna Angulska and The Northern Block. The partnership has brought together Angulska’s artistic flair and the foundry’s technical expertise, resulting in a typeface that captures the spirit of handwritten expression, with a modern twist.
Designed solely with a pointed brush, Zabawa is a testament to the beauty found in imperfection. This handwritten typeface finds a golden balance between something unique and something universally familiar. Light and rhythmic forms give a sense of freshness and natural flow, with each stroke telling a story reminiscent of playful doodles on a napkin, or spontaneous scribbles on a shopping list.
The typeface has undoubtedly made its mark. In April, Creative Boom selected Zabawa as one of ‘The best new typefaces from leading foundries and designers’.
Unified over a decade. Unified with respect. Unified by design.
The Northern Block have taken on an ultramarathon in attention to detail, to create a unique, adaptable sans-serif. It’s a typeface that’s evolved over time, developing alongside technology, shifting mindsets, and new needs.
Ten years in the making, Nurom Next is a true collaboration, shaped by an international team. With a collective approach and a shared perspective, each pair of hands that Nurom Next has passed through on its journey, has brought something different to the typeface.
Nurom Next is due for release soon. Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive discounts and the latest foundry news.
In Other News
Supply Family Foundry Partner
Earlier this year, The Northern Block partnered with Supply Family to distribute a selection of our fonts, including the popular Syke Mono and Paradroid type families. Supply Family offers easy and accessible licensing for Desktop, Web, ePub and Mobile Apps.
Design Awards Finalist for Angusta
Angusta was recently announced as a ‘Design Finalist’ at the Hiiibrand Awards. The winning entries will be revealed in August 2024. Of course, we have our fingers and toes crossed for the win!
Angusta featured in Comm Arts
Following Angusta’s win at the 14th Annual Typography Competition, Communication Arts featured Tasos Varipatis’ typeface in the January/February 2024 Typography Annual. From 1,262 entries submitted, Angusta was one of sixteen successful projects to snap up an award in the Typeface Design category.
Fagun published in the TDC Annual
Type Directors Club featured Jonathan Hill’s Fagun typeface in their 44th Annual. The publication showcases ‘The World’s Best Typography’, including winners from the TDC69 competition, of which Fagun received the prestigious ‘Certificate of Typographic Excellence’.
Tasos joins the jury at GRANSHAN
In May, our Senior Type Designer, Tasos Varipatis, was appointed as a Greek Script Specialist at the GRANSHAN Competition. Tasos was part of a team of over 60 global experts, who focused exclusively on typefaces across ten distinct script groups.
Donna supports university students
In April, Northumbria University invited our Head of Brand, Donna Wearmouth, to join the first-year students of the graphic design course. Donna spent the afternoon delivering 1-to-1 sessions, reviewing ongoing design projects, and providing industry guidance.