“In our work as modern graphic designers we are daily making use of vocabulary and methods directly derived from long-established crafts of typesetting and printing, although today’s fast digital workflow has also removed some of the word’s original meaning and relationship.
Hoping to revive that traditional knowledge, we embarked on an exploration of letterpress, a particular printing technique, while documenting the process of discovery.
We found that getting your hands dirty by fitting together metal blocks of type is a truly strenuous but rewarding experience for anyone interested in typography, and gained a new and fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of type.
Wanting to make that knowledge accessible for others, we produced a set of cards and photographs presented in a small gift box. The cards are representations of different measurements and rules related to letterpress printing in particular and to typography in general, while the photos show the process of setting and printing these cards. At the bottom of the box is encased a small bundle of genuine metal type.”
Transfer Studio is a London-based design practice founded in 2006 by Falko Grentrup and Valeria Hedman. Focusing on printed matter and exhibition environments, the studio has worked with clients such as MTV, The Southbank Centre and University of the Arts London. Their distinctive approach to graphic design has established the studio a reputation for imaginative, simple yet thoughtful work.
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