“I don’t believe in originality as an absolute, I think it’s more to do with interesting twists on existing forms. Borrowing from the Modernist designers of the recent past, for instance, is not plagiarism; it’s more a continuation of the processes and ideas that they set in motion. I’m influenced by Polish poster art of the 1960’s, which was influenced by Pop Art and Surrealism, and which in turn appropriated commercial art, comic book art, cinema and Victorian engravings, etc. I think the key to whether it’s good or not lies in the viewer’s response to a piece of design. Do they say “I’ve seen it before” or, “I’ve seen it before but not in that way.”—Julian House
The BonFX Letter
One good pairing.
Every Tuesday.
2-minute read · free
This week — no. 14
Quiet authority
Merriweather sets the tone in one line. Lato stays out of the way and lets it.
MERRIWEATHER 700 + LATO 400
A font specimen, a pairing that works, and one line on why it works. That is the whole email.
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