Books Collaboration Graphic Design Publication Studio Typography

Circular 18

posted by Marcroy September 4, 2014

Domenic Lippa and Jeremy Kunze from Pentagram have designed the latest issue of Circular, the magazine of the Typographic Circle, which is available to members now. Issue number 18, is the tenth consecutive issue designed by Lippa and his team.?? The Typographic Circle was formed in 1976 to bring together anyone with an interest in type and typography. A not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers it stages a variety of type and typography related events including a series of diverse monthly lectures by well-known industry speakers, and the annual New York Type Directors Club exhibition. Previous speakers have included Trevor Beattie, Stefan Sagmeister, Ken Garland, Jonathan Barnbrook, Fred Flade, MadeThought, NB Studio, Anthony Burrill, Rick Poyner, Sir John Hegarty.

Lippa has had a long-standing relationship with the Typographic Circle, serving on the committee for many years and also as its Chair. Unlike some other organisations, the Typographic Circle prides itself on providing a platform for a number of voices rather than promoting a single view.

Each issue is individually designed and this decision enables Lippa and his team to explore different typographic solutions. The last issue (number 17) was a totally visual issue. With that in mind it was decided to create an issue that was predominately typographic. Titled ‘Words & Images’ the whole of the front section of Circular 18 is a series of interviews with previous guest speakers conducted by Lippa himself plus other members of the Circle executive committee such as current chairperson Alan Dye of NB Studio, Louise Sloper and Val Kildea.
The interviews both long and short are all set in Regular by A2-TYPE & Perpetua by Eric Gill and using just 2 colours. The back section is then devoted to a showcase of work of the interviewees.

Thanks to the generous support of GF Smith a limited edition of envelopes have been produced in different colourways featuring quotes from some of the interviews.

“Although a magazine, Circular is a unique publication as it carries no advertising, and therefore doesn’t need to behave like a normal publication. We are also very conscious that this is going to designers and typographers who can be the most demanding of audiences. With this in mind we kept main text to a consistent structure and then (hopefully) surprised our readers with changes of pace and size of type to some of the quotes. This creates a tension throughout the magazine. I’ve always thought typography can have the ability to engage and surprise us, which is what we have tried to do in this issue.” – Domenic Lippa

Credits:
Design: Domenic Lippa and Jeremy Kunze, Pentagram Design.
Co-editors: Domenic Lippa, Louise Sloper and Val Kildea

www.typocircle.com
www.pentagram.com