Typefaces - 101

So finally a Periodic Table for printers to enjoy - yes even me.  No, I was definitely not the best chemistry student much to the disappointment of my very scientific parents.   (Just to clarify this is Erin a major history and lit geek and not Sarah who is a total geek so probably aced every pop quiz on the Periodic Table of Elements thrown her way - but don't worry there won't be a quiz at the end of this post).  It's just something cool that the designers over at Squidspot came up with.  The table places fonts into "families" by column and groups the typefaces by popularity.  Of course the table only captures a small sampling of the the millions of fonts out there, but it's still tons of fun.  I'm hoping to stumble across another soon with all the beautiful scripts I'm particularly keen on.  In the meantime, I can't wait to pass someone on the street who took advantage of the gear shop at Squidspot and snatched up one of their Helvetica tees.

Louise Fili, Ltd.

Hello everyone! I'm Christine, Haute Papier's new intern, and I'm a student at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. I'm really excited to work with Sarah, Erin, and Alison for the fall semester! I think one of the best ways to get to know someone is through viewing what they like, so for my first blog entry I want to write about a design studio whose work inspires me. Louise Fili, Ltd., based in New York, focuses on food packaging and restaurant identity. Once a senior designer for Herb Lubalin, Louise Fili has run her own studio for two decades. With only three employees, the studio has produced some of the most gorgeous retro-inspired, whimsical work I've ever seen, most pieces featuring hand-drawn type:

Louise's extensive collection of vintage signage and packaging, culled from flea markets all over Europe and gifted from clients, inform her designs. "I have three interests: food, type, and Italy," she says. I think these photos of her studio basically say it all:

Louise Fili, Ltd.'s senior designer, Jessica Hische, is the designer behind all that hand-lettering. The work on her own website, www.jhische.com, makes me quake with jealousy, in particular because Hische herself is only 24 years old. As a freelance designer and illustrator, Hische recently created these lovely letterpressed birth announcements for a friend:

I have to stop myself before I get carried away; this is just a sampling of things I love. I will continue to share my favorite things throughout the semester, so keep tuned!

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Clients often ask, "what inspires you?"  or "How do you come up with all of these designs?" Erin and I, like most designers, find inspiration in the things all around us.  I carry a camera with me just about everywhere I go so I can quickly take a snapshot of whatever I might encounter.  For example, Sunday I found a vendor at Easter Market selling a bunch of California cases and old type.  Imagine my surprise!  It's hard to track it down when you're looking for it - let alone run into it while searching for furniture!

Which speaking of furniture, that's from where the inspiration from this post comes.  My husband and i just refinished the hardwood floors in our apartment and now I'm working on buying some new furniture and reupholstering some oldies, but goodies and I've always loved Amy Butler's fabrics.  I'm thinking about going with the bottom right pattern in the Nigella layout below.  Aren't these beautiful?!