ABOUT

On 4 November 2015, Monotype released The Eric Gill Series a collection of 77 fonts in three families: Gill Sans Nova, Joanna Nova, and Joanna Sans Nova.

The Eric Gill Series typefaces are derived from the original work of influential British artist Eric Gill (1882- 1940). Designing a series of three coordinated typefaces, each unique but sharing similar DNA, required intensive research, refinement and collaboration.

The project represents an unprecedented exploration of the past, present and future of type design.
In conjunction with the release of the typeface series, Monotype launched The Eric Gill Series exhibition at the Truman Brewery, London.

The seven-day exhibition was a celebration of Gill’s work spanning 80 years and was produced in partnership with Eye Magazine, Penguin Books, Ditchling Museum, FIELD, LeBook, The Five Points Brewing Company, The Typography Workshop and Letterform Archive.

The exhibit gave designers, students and type fans the chance to interact, work and play with the three Eric Gill Series typefaces while learning about the past, present and future of the type design craft.

The exhibition included rarely seen materials from the Monotype Archive and our partners’ private collections, presented together for the very first time – many pieces never seen before. The archives included hand drawings documenting the development of the Gill Sans typeface, test prints for display fonts that were never digitized, and copper plates revealing the production process of early letterpress typefaces.

We felt, the best way to truly experience type is to get your hands on it and use it. 'Set in Gill’ was the interactive portion of the exhibition, where visitors had the option of a physical or digital exploration of The Eric Gill Series typefaces; either by setting super-sized glyphs on a giant magnetic wall, or exploring the vast typographic range of the series at the workstations, using desktop applications, smart phones, tablets and e-readers.

In 2015, Monotype partnered with generative art and design studio FIELD to produce a series of experimental installations, entitled Type Reinvented. At The Eric Gill Series the third installation was showcased - demonstrating type as an emotive and adaptive means of communication— important traits that Monotype continues to explore with its own research, development and unique approach to typeface design.

During the exhibition, Monotype hosted, in partnership with Eye Magazine, two fascinating and engaging evenings of talks; Me & Mr Gill and Type Tuesdays: Set In Gill. Across the two evenings prolific names from the industry along with Monotype designers spoke on their relationship with Gill’s work and the effect it has had on the industry. Speakers included: Sallie Morris, Claire Mason, Phil Baines, David Pearson, Terrance Weinzierl, Dan Rhatigan, David Hitner and James Mosley.

Monotype partnered with The Five Points Brewing Company (TFPBC) to create three bespoke brews, inspired by and bottled and branded for The Eric Gill Series: Sans Light, Medium Italic and Ultra Bold. The first time TFPBC has ever re-branded their bottled beer.

Monotype also worked with Inkworks to create unique Gill-inspired products including laser-cut wooden coasters, tea towels and mugs. All were sold, along with other Monotype goodies, at the onsite shop.

The exhibition welcomed 4,000 visitors across seven days with nearly 500 guests at the two talks alone.
Highlight press included: Wallpaper*, WIRED, Design Week, Dezeen, Creative Review, London Design Festival, Étapes, Type Worship, Fast Co, Type Token and Clerkenwell Design Week.