Vespucci: 7th Morisawa Awards International Typeface Design competition silver prize

This was an International typeface design competition juried by Alan Chan, Matthew Carter, Robert Slimbach, Takenobu Igarishi, Mitsuo Katsui, Masahiko Kozuka and Yoshiaki Morisawa. It won the silver award and was featured in a subsequent exhibition held at the Morisawa headquarters in Tokyo, 12.2002-03.2003. This follows the winning of the silver award in 1996 and honourable mentions in 1996 and 1999. The Vespucci typeface is a modern interpretation of so-called ‘Grotesque’ typefaces from the nineteenth century. It is not a revival and is not modelled on any particular typeface but rather embodies the designer's own study of the robust and often crude vernacular of these type forms and research into the movements of the calligraphic line and the production methods of broad-edged tools. The rationale or research focus is an intention to analyse the possibilities of a fusion of well-informed calligraphic generative methods with the practical, 'rough-and-ready' look of many nineteenth century Grotesques. The work began with pencil studies and was transferred to software to generate the outline data, spacing and kerning values. An early version of the design was submitted to the 2002 Morisawa international typeface design competition in Japan. This competition is highly esteemed and its prize money attracts the best talent in the field. The work is documented in several publications, published by the Morisawa Company and by features in the international design press. The typeface is undergoing further refinement and expansion in preparation for publishing. A copy of the competition book publication is available.