Synopses & Reviews
Designers often look to the past for ways to enliven their projects. Letters with relief and shadow have long been an effective way to add spectacle or intrigue to otherwise mundane words. Introduced in metal type as early as 1815, shadow typefaces were a form of early experimentation among type founders. In the late nineteenth century, the form was adopted in wood type for use in posters and has been embraced ever since by designers looking for ways to communicate a sense of monumentality, a feeling of confidence, or a simple impression of optimism. Shadow Type presents a broad spectrum of examples—advertising, shop signs, billboards, posters, type-specimen books—featuring the most popular, rare, and (nearly) forgotten dimensional letters from Europe and the United States. Compiled by the leading historian of graphic design Steven Heller and renowned graphic designer Louise Fili, this invaluable collection, packed full of typographic ideas, will inspire anyone aiming to give more depth to their design.
Synopsis
The first-ever compilation of shadow typefaces is now available in paperback. Letters with relief and shadow have long been an effective way to add spectacle or intrigue to otherwise mundane words. Shadow Type presents a broad spectrum of examples—advertising, shop signs, billboards, posters, type-specimen books— drawn from the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, a particularly rich period in the history of shadow type. Compiled by the leading historian of graphic design, Steven Heller, and renowned graphic designer Louise Fili, this invaluable collection, packed full of typographic ideas, will inspire anyone aiming to give more depth to their design.
About the Author
Steven Heller is cochair of the MFA Design Department at the School of Visual Arts and the author of numerous books, including our bestselling
Typography Sketchbooks.
Louise Fili is principal of Louise Fili Ltd, a New York City-based design studio specializing in logos, food packaging, restaurant identities and books. She was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 2004, and is author of the best-selling Elegantissima.