Tasty 3D Type Design by Chris LaBrooy.

If you ever need some dimensionalized type for a project, 3D artist Chris LaBrooy is your man. With a portfolio full of inspiring personal projects and commissioned work, the freelance UK designer (whose architectural typography I have shared with you in the past) is hard to beat. Take a look at some of his terrific work.

Personal Projects

A personal project experimenting with different 3D lettering techniques. Features two quotes from Sam Goldwyn: "The harder I work the luckier I get." and "Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day."





Land Of The Free (personal project):



LOVE (personal project):




Commissioned Work

Commissioned by Transport for London to create a poster illustration for their new fares campaign (for MC Saatchi, London. Art direction by Will Bates, project management Laura Pearson and agent Debut art London.):




Commissioned work for Oct 2013 Issue of Fast Company Magazine (cropped):


Commissioned work for Prudential print campaign (for Droga5):




Commissioned work to announce the new AT&T store in Chicago (for BBDO Atlanta, Art Director: Jason Duval):


Series of typographic illustrations designed for the New York summer streets festival. Produced by Leaddog marketing NYC:






This image was commissioned by readers digest magazine for there 2013 fun and games issue. Unfortunately they decided to go in an alternative direction and the image was never used:


all images courtesy of the artist

See more of his terrific work on his website.
Chris Labrooy on Behance

Chris Labrooy is represented in the US by by Debut Art: info@debutart.com
Represented in France by Florence Moll: alix@florencemoll.com

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Arek 3D animation, 3D visualization studio, advertising, computer-manipulated art, design, graphic design, type, type project, typography

The Helvetica Hotel, From Soap To Signage - And A Little History.

For an independent study, Jung Hwan (Albert) Son, a senior communication design student at Parsons the New School for Design, decided to create and brand a hip and trendy hotel - inspired by the Helvetica font. Below are the elements he designed for his concept of the Helvetica Hotel.


Room keys, signage, wall clocks and stationary:






Toiletries, hangers and minibar items:









The clean sans serif font has been a favorite of designers since its inception, used for many recognizable logos and even inspiring a full length film.



History of Helvetica:
The Helvetica font was developed by Max Miedinger with Edüard Hoffmann in 1957 for the Haas Type Foundry in Münchenstein, Switzerland and quickly became an international hit in the graphic arts world. With its clean, smooth lines, it reflected a modern look that many designers were seeking. At a time when many European countries were recovering from the ravages of war, Helvetica presented a way to express newness and modernity.



“First learn a proper trade.” These were the words with which Max Miedinger’s father put an end to the debate on the future career of his 16-year-old son, who longed to become a painter. Instead, in the autumn of 1926, Miedinger junior began an apprenticeship as a type setter with the Zurich printing company Jacques Bollmann. Four years later, he knew for certain: “I want to be a designer, not spend the rest of my life fiddling with columns of type in galleys”. Evening classes with Johann Kohlmann at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts confirmed his interest. Finally, in 1936, Max Miedinger was able to put his talent to professional use – as a typographer in the advertising studio of the Globus department store chain. There, over the ten years that followed, he created posters, newspaper advertisements, the corporate lettering and printing for in-house use.


above: just some of the brands that use Helvetica for their corporate identity (image courtesy of typophile.com)

Once Helvetica caught on, the typeface began to be used extensively in signage, in package labeling, in poster art, in advertising—in short, everywhere. Innumerable corporate logos such as those of Lufthansa, Bayer, Hoechst, Deutsche Bahn, BASF and BMW use the font. Inclusion of the font in home computer systems, such as the Apple Macintosh in 1984, only further cemented its ubiquity.


above: the poster for Gary Hustwit's documentary about Helvetica.

In his own words, designer Albert Son says "Essential theme of the branding is based on the visual attributes of the typeface, which is neutral, clean, simple. As it is most beautiful when it is by itself, focus of the overall branding was on keeping everything simple and clean in terms of typography as well as use of colors. While reinterpreting essential hotel products in 'Helvetica' way, the brand also introduces bunch of unconventional items in a range of categories."

Albert Son on Behance

Books, DVDs and other Helvetica related items:

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Arek boutique hotel, font design, hip hotels, interior design, package design, swiss design, type, type project, typography

A Hole In G. Ollie Willis Designs A Typographic Golf Course.

Leicester born London based Designer Ollie Willis challenges the precision, patience and frustration common in the game of golf with a mini golf course in the shape of the letters of the alphabet. By creating a typeface that uses the curves, 45º and 90º angles that are present in mini golf courses, the letters can be made into interactive structures pairing the processes of golf and design to become a 26 hole course.







While not yet completed, Willis plans to design each of the 26 letters for the complete miniature golf course.

Ollie Willis

Thanks to Designboom for bringing this cool project to my attention.

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Arek design, image alphabet, miniatures, sports, type, type project, typography