The Typographic Universe

The Typographic Universe: Letterforms Found in Nature, the Built World and Human Imagination (Thames & Hudson), by Stephen Heller & Gail Anderson

Virtually anything can be used to make original typography and once you start looking, it is impossible not to see letters everywhere, from deliberate inventions – aromatic alphabets made of spaghetti, soup or spices, or contorted typefaces styled out of human handprints – to serendipitous and often short-lived discoveries – letters formed by chemtrails in the sky, negative spaces between trees branches and city buildings, cracks in plaster – to fading ‘ghost types’ painted on buildings in a pre-digital age.

The Typographic Universe is an inspirational sourcebook featuring more than 300 examples of unusual letterforms, either created from non-traditional materials or found in unexpected places.

ABC Bookcase. Designers: Eva Alessandrini, Roberto Saporiti. Location: Besnate, Italy

Shoestring Alphabet. Designer: Pamela Speck/Violet Fox Visuals. Location: Arlington, TX

Furniture Alphabet. Designer: The Butler Bros. Photographer; Adam Voorhes. Client: High Fashion Home. Location: Austin, TX

Rubber Ring “O”. Photographer: Xerxes Irani. Location Scottsdale, AZ

Body Alphabet. Photographers: Piotr Gajewski, Grzegorz Samson. Location: Gdańsk/Wejherowo, Poland

Body Type. Designer: Amandine Alessandra. Location: London

Anyone for Tea. Designer: Patrick Knowles. Location: London

Alphabet Truck. Photographer: Eric Tabuchi. Client: Florence Loewy. Location: France

London Alphabet. Photographer: Dan Page/The Creative Arms. Art Directors: Craig Brooks, Jamie Rankin. Location: London

Sculptural Net. Designer: Emma Lloyd. Location: Manchester, UK

Ampersand Wind Chimes. Designer: Molly McLeod. Location: Amherst, MA

Décor Type. Designer: Claudio Scotto. Location: Naples