Sunday 3 January 2010

52 - endstart

this is the end my friend!
Woohoo! we're here! It's the end of the year - and the begining of another...
gabi and Phil would like to thank everyone who's taken the time to look, and a very special thanks to everyone who contributed to our year long project - we don't think we could have done it without you!

To celebrate the end of the project and the start of a new year - Phil has made a typeface based on a clock face. seriously abstract - but strangly readable... well, he thinks so!

Gabi and Phil will be continuing their creative output with other projects in 2010 - but we might just drop a few typefaces in TFAW here and there - but, we won't be doing it on a weekly basis in 2010!...

Thank you all again - and we wish you a fantastic 2010 in whatever you do.

Happy new year one and all from #TFAW - gabi and Phil

You can download it here (endstart.zip 7.13Kbs). You can subscribe to the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces that will be available at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk

If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!

Sunday 27 December 2009

51 - frost

tfaw #51 - frost
This week - the temperature plummeted! We'ev been driving around (according to our car's thermometer) in -8 degree temperatures! We've heard that up in Nethybridge that it's got to -16 or so degrees... cold cold cold!

It's been snowing on and off too - and it's lying, so that's great news for us snow lovers! - up the hills soon - and off sledging with Poppy - just what you need for Christmas time!

Anyway, enjoy this last font from Gabi....

tfaw #51 - frost

This typeface is now unavailable for download - but will be included in the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk. If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!

Sunday 20 December 2009

50 - ratmnumberone

ratm a-z
woo hoo! rage Against the Machine got the number one slot over the usual turgid ballad we all come to expect at christmas from the x factor programme...and that man that runs it / owns it / profits from it / tell stupid people what music is...

well, we've all heard the "RATM are signed to Sony too" - so what... at least their music is written by them , made by them, played by them - they got where they are with hard work, integrity and the ability to write a bloody good tune. Oh, and a fantastic campaign by Tracey & Jon on facebook...lots of lovely money for Shelter too...nice.

Anyway - I've decided to celebrate this event by making a typeface made up of photos of RATM... I hope that's cool witht he powers that be!

well done rage against the machine!

This typeface is now unavailable for download - but will be included in the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk. If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!

Monday 14 December 2009

49 - tired travel

Tired Travel A-Z
We have just come back from Newcastle, a cultural battery re-charge before Christmas (and some Christmas shopping). We had hoped to update the blog when we were down there...but some technical difficulties gave us a big fail...never mind... we got on with relaxing!

We drove down on Sunday and pretty much did the journey in a one-er...so I was pretty beat... which gave me inspiration for this typeface. The idea is simple, roads...roads and roads! and getting all fuzzy and tired close to the end of the trip. We got there safely, so don't you worry your wee self.
Gahnin tae the toon ye knah

This typeface is now unavailable for download - but will be included in the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk. If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!

Tuesday 8 December 2009

48 - citySquare



I don't know if you know, but Aberdeen is currently undergoing some rather troublesome times financially... the Council get the least amount of funding from the Scottish Government than any where else in Scotland (per capita)... it's because we're seen as a "rich city" - thanks to the wonderful oil industry... you see, we have more millionaires than anywhere else (per square mile) outside of Chelsea. (apparently)... so, as we're told it's thanks to the oil industry, Aberdeen lives.


We obviously have a lot of local business men that have benefited greatly from this wonderful black gold gift - and they want to "give something back" - in the shape of a massive concrete square, covering over our only green space left in the city centre ("that doesn't have dead people in it")...

Let me rewind you a few years, back to when Peacock Visual Arts had full planning permission to build a fantastic, world class contemporary arts centre, skilfully, elegantly and beautifully woven into Union Terrace Gardens steep - unusable slopes by Architects, Brisac Gonzalez. This (on paper) seems like the perfect solution to not only bring Peacock's into a more visible and engaging space for Aberdonians to experience Art & Creativity at all levels, but to enhance and re-energise / re-populate the sadly under-visited gardens….

Fast forward to “just before PVA were going to start building”… and our friends, “the oil industry” pop up their heads and say “hold on… I want that land…err, for the People of Aberdeen, here’s £50 million if you will build….THIS!” .


"this time, this place, this generation"...'this' is an anagram of SHIT i might point out.

That “this” is a giant concrete square, raising the level of the Gardens to street level to “speed up access” from one side of the gardens to the other (of which will save 1 minute in walking). There are many arguments the backers of the plan are trying to convince the public why they should have this concrete square (instead of a re-populated existing garden) – “It will be a cultural centre for Aberdonians” (apparently size matters here – as peacock is “Small Beer”) – this point is sort of mooted by the fact that "Eighty per cent of the people who spend time in the square will have no interest in the arts." was mentioned in rebuttal to the purpose of PVA in Aberdeen. We’re also told (and I still can’t get my head around this one) that “We are by no means going to concrete over the gardens”

…so this has inspired my to make this “protest font”. – a duplicitous and double layered lie. In the Upper case, we have a respectable slab of space with bushes and trees, allegedly living happily around the space…whilst underneath, the sneaky lower case set is the car park we fear it is going to be…

An excellent point by point document by Fraser Denholm addresses all of the serious issues around this matter. I urge anyone to read it, and ask the right questions (any question!)…It’s just a shame that the belligerent and (apparently used to getting their own way) businessmen didn’t think about their approach – before wading in and usurping the already in place PVA plans. It’s a damn shame that we obviously have certain people in certain places that can suddenly do a U turn on a project that had full planning permission all because the whiff of money is too much to ignore. 50Million? Lots of lovely money and a very kind donation to the city…just a shame it’s being put into something apparently a lot of Aberdonians don’t want (and apparently little or no Aberdonians want). Oh, we’ll figure out where the other (minimum estimate) £90 – 100 + million is coming from….and we all know how civic planning budget have gone in the last few years…..

The long and the short of my position is –
I want to keep green space in the heart of Aberdeen.
I want to see a world class, sophisticated arts centre in Aberdeen.
I want Aberdonians to be able to engage and become interested in “the Arts” and I believe the PVA building can be that perfect conduit. Even if people don’t want to see “art” – they can rest assured that PVA will be the best concourse INTO the re-vitalised union Terrace gardens.

Sign this petition if you agree with me. Write letters to councillors, MSP’s and the press – please please please CARE and please FIND OUT INFORMATION FOR YOURSELF don’t let a rich and powerful media machine tell you what to think. (and for that matter, ME either - so do your research.)

This typeface is now unavailable for download - but will be included in the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk. If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!

Sunday 29 November 2009

47 - fading

fading number 47

We've been swamped recently...so much on, so much to do, so many jobs getting "in the way" of our fun fun fun...

We've neglected the TPYF project for several weeks now - a real shame! so, this week's typeface is inspired by our neglect - the fact that we're "fading just before the end"... we've only got a few more typefaces to go before 2010!... and we can't give up now!

fading away? we won't quit!

We'll be back on track in December - back to the one a week downloads... as planned wayyyy back at the start of the year!

This typeface is now unavailable for download - but will be included in the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk. If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!

Sunday 22 November 2009

46 - webbing (TPYF)

webbing number 46

TPYF (Their Past, Your Future) is a project for schools to explore the history of the armed forces.

Gabi and I were luck enough to be asked by the Gordon Highlanders to help them create workshops and activities to look at the GH history with artistic eyes.

We particularly liked the webbing / uniform typeface the class of Riverbank Primary School came up with... it was fantastic to see how they pupils looked for shapes and form within overyday objects to create letterforms. They'd really got the idea of using everyday objects to create new forms.

webbing for the TPYF project Gabi and Phil would like to thank all the schools & pupils involved in the project, and a special thanks to Aurelie Bureau for asking us to participate and plan projects with her at the Gordon Highlanders.


This typeface is now unavailable for download - but will be included in the limited edition CD Rom of all 52 Typefaces at the beginning of 2010. To secure a CD Rom, please email us (Phil & Gabi) at info@g-r-a.co.uk. If you would like to get involved in making a typeface for the project, please email us at : info@g-r-a.co.uk or leave a comment below!