49 - tired travel

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.


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!

47 - fading

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!

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!

32 - DR Props

I got an email from Warp records this week...it's their 20th anniversary (I can't believe it either!) They are putting on lots of shows to celebrate this fact, and I was particularly stoked to see a shindig going down in Sheffield...

It was originally, cryptically announced as "Sheffield...soon...say no more" and I instantly thought of the Designers Republic (RIP?) And got all excited.

I'd also pre-ordered the amazing anniversary box set (WARP20 Box set) back in June straight away, after hearing of its creation (£100? - A BARGAIN)



So, it is with all the WARP / BLEEP / tDR excitement that I decided to create a DR inspired (ripped off, probably!) typeface. All the fun of the Autechre fair. 3nj01.

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!

30 - Gothic Door

Gabi and I were stuck in traffic this week - we're not used to that anymore...but, it's a great time to slow down and look around...and on the Kings gate (Aberdeen), I spied a really nice sandblasted typeface on a door - I didn't have my camera - and desperately tried to mentally note the Gothic / black letter-esque forms...

So, "Gothic Door" is an approximation, a guesstimate, a pastiche of the typeface I did see, perhaps it's more classical than this "retro futuristic" noodle I ended up with...I'll have to go photograph it for sure.

It kind of reminds me of a favourite 90's font (FF NewBerlin) I used to use a lot...but with a bit more "ostentation" about it? - check that "g" - doesn't that look like a road going no-where?! - perhaps it's all too subliminal... the Kerning is a bit squinky too... I'm going to have to look into the font creator upgrade!

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!

29 - untitled

This week's typeface is by a guest contributor, Mobius Engine... a force for mystery and restraint, Mobius Engine has sent us "Untitled"...

A Man of minimal (and very well chosen) words - no information has been sent - nor image to "showcase"... so we decided to add a simple 400*400 image (with his snazzy logo too!) and these minimal words to hopefully get you to dip your toe in the mysterious world of the Mobius Engine

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!

22 - Perspex

Claypots again!... the builders are getting on great guns, the chippies are working so fast, it looks like they might set fire to the wood they use! and the plumbers nabbed all the copper. (They didn't think we'd want £200 worth of scrap metal)Anyway!... in praise of the stripping of the walls and making new framing & insulation - Phil has constructed a typeface called "perspex".

The type can be used as readable text - but it can also be used for construction purposes too...We'd love to see people's illustrations made from this! send them in if you do make anything!



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!

17 - Idea (from Ikea)

Well well well...what fun we had this week...a trip to Ikea. A rushed trip to Ikea. An "impromptu" trip to Ikea, you get the idea.... and this trip gave us an idea for the typeface for this week.

It seems that Claypots is seeping into everything we touch (rightly so...it will be our new home once we make it!) - and Friday's mission - was to purchase a Kitchen.

We've been looking for a while, B&Q, Magnet, Homebase etc...all nice, all more expensive (and probably the same quality) as our good friends in Ikea.


There's always a sense of cheating or "joining the masses" when you say you've bought something from the Swedish Box... I will not be Jack's silent scream...

One wonderful thing that Ikea provide a "home maker" is the ability to create a 3d impression of your room / home with this neat little free program (http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/rooms_ideas/splashplanners.html ) not only can you drag and drop Ikea things onto a blank canvas, you can save the model and open it in Ikea for an assistant to point out that you need 8 more bits (that cost at least £100) - bit's you won't see - but are essential... Anyway - this wonderful tool gave me the opportunity to make our first typeface for May.

It's a simpleton - a restricted set of characters. Read into that what you will (and 'scuse the pun).

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!

15 - late!

Ahhh! Is it just me – or are things speeding up? Becoming more hectic? I think the theme of this week undoubtedly is “being late” – deadlines, meetings, places to be in general.



I’d decided to create a typeface that embraces the art of running late – not quite getting there in time – zipping in and apologising in sort to present itself as best it can! I am not painting an accurate picture here, I’m not always late – not always rushed – perhaps I am too rushed to post this blog to “explain fully”…ho ho…Phil.

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
Douglas Adams

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!

05 - Blizzard (8 weights)

Well...the weather, lets get all British about it!...We here at G-R-A have been so inspired by the torrents of snow over the last week - we made a typeface about it!



There are 8 "weights" to the blizzard typeface from the simple dots of DB_nobox to the whiteout that is DB_forty... We think the typeface can be used as decoration or as readable text - so quite a versatile font.

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!