wood type study
This project was all about studying wood type and recreating historic typefaces. Since wood type was originally used for large-scale letters that demanded attention in urban space, we were prompted to use our type in a large scale, somewhere around the studio.
First, we got to look through the wood type collection that BU has. This is just a small sample of that collection:
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32461cc4210c98861f76e63356d85c989f051e0a38e858cdc9786b92c76f3f4c/F282F96C-58B6-4B8A-97B2-FF3CDF1B8583_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2014c431a9f80022610df4eef37d055d42a097d637da0d78e76554a1381f9176/CE1A9A9A-D779-43F5-84E8-C27C245C9CDA_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3f72a2a4db9592d82b4f0d8397d925095a48082198b64b62f470480b8fdd7ca2/E3219DB7-40F9-483B-B0B2-FC10B575472C_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/53600b91db284337e2506a0db3d2b1f4b176647c9ba41e68f0a585009709be01/D408E703-A03E-4B89-87E7-82CA4762D94B_1_105_c.jpeg)
We then chose a typeface from a catalog to work with. I chose a typeface called No. 508. I used Illustrator to trace the letters I’d need for my installation.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eb7a6c41fa14fdd93f8f66876256d74e716281da5960037e6823be79e4846a1b/F7368E77-0605-4B6B-B58B-1F10A882F5B7_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3aa689bbcb0d3d2d3bf05b0eb76138dc554bff5fb7c8675bcd582db7aaaa4e31/amy-k-no508-process_Page_1.jpg)
I used the vinyl cutter to print the characters; then I installed my type on the support column next to my desk in the graduate studio.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/371f04116debd55d01f5088a0d8cbb89fe5b6705419c1b1408e358235419ef22/1262A29D-BE1F-4E99-B900-2C661C723202_1_105_c.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/aea2d99fd7bbea2bf966c2dabfd93b729ae0fbd80fc394d9f0f83ef6a85e4c19/DB2692AE-541C-4E7F-9529-89D785D0A5F5_1_105_c.jpeg)
I hoped it would serve as a reminder in the midst of everything that comes with being a full time graduate student with two small kids to take care of. (I added post-its, which represent my running to-do list that never is finished.)
Stay strong, like this column.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5b6b492eff4cc6c84675e629500275c3b1d57904b511af4a6a692be36800a47/IMG_0459.jpeg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a1cb7c8b8b07a2b4b154ba3ba234d4782f753bb0692f70658e082bcd6234365c/Screen-Shot-2022-04-28-at-2.15.11-AM.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d2272f81c34e8148959c9aea4457d84b8e98d7c126b5beb7f169b9b8fac34cab/Screen-Shot-2022-04-28-at-2.15.02-AM.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4d5177e13668c340d35747e0182d8c7bcffcf5ff1dea7ef22003ced5a15e4307/Screen-Shot-2022-04-28-at-2.14.53-AM.png)