About this project
Vernacular Typography is a digital archive and community-based initiative dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and promotion of vanishing examples of lettering in the everyday environment. It seeks to explore, protect, and support the typographic environment in cities around the world that retain their rich traditions of vernacular signage.
All over the world, beautiful examples of vernacular lettering are in danger of being replaced by disposable signs that represent large global corporations.
Typography is a powerful marker of regional identity and has a remarkable ability to capture the local character of a particular time and place.
Unfortunately, in some places globalization has all but erased the local typographic heritage. Cities that once had a unique typescape now look like they could be anywhere in the world.
For the past 10 years, I've been photographing environmental lettering and organizing the images by place and category on VernacularTypography.com. Right now the website has over 5,000 images of urban typography from 10 different countries, including Argentina, The Bahamas, Chile, Cuba, England, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the US.
The goal of the project is to gather as many images of endangered local signage before it disappears altogether; create an archive to document and share those images; and work to revive the tradition of creating new, original lettering in the built environment.
Donations to Vernacular Typography will go towards website overhaul and upkeep, updating equipment, documenting new cities, and supporting artists creating original material for the project.
For more info visit:
Vernacular Typography
Vernacular Typography blog
8x10 photo options:
All supporters will be thanked on the Vernacular Typography website.
Please add $8 for international shipping.
Vernacular Typography is also a fiscally sponsored project of Artspire, a Program of New York Foundation for the Arts 501(c)(3). If you'd like to receive a tax-deduction instead of hard goods, you can make a donation through the Artspire website.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
Your name listed on the website as a supporter.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Personalized postcard mailed to you.
Pledge $15 or more Pledge $15 or more
A choice of the following stationery items: 2 Gridded Vernacular Typography notepads or 2 Vernacular Typography BIC CLIC pens (black with silver) or Vernacular Typography postcards (set of 5) in a hand-stamped pouch or Set of 4 'disappearing' Vernacular Typography pencils or 2 Vernacular Typography branded sharpies.
Pledge $35 or more Pledge $35 or more
A blank composition notebook with a hand-drawn marble pattern cover.
Pledge $45 or more Pledge $45 or more
An 8x10 archival matte print (choice of 5 below video).
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Original polaroid of vernacular typography. Comes with certificate of authenticity.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
Vernacular Typography t-shirt (black & white on grey, graphic not shown).
Pledge $70 or more Pledge $70 or more
An 8x10 archival matte print of any photo on vernaculartypography.com.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
T-shirt, a print, and an assortment of airmail envelopes.
Pledge $200 or more Pledge $200 or more
All 5 archival prints.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
T-shirt and all 5 prints.
Pledge $300 or more Pledge $300 or more
T-shirt, all 5 prints, and all stationery items.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
T-shirt, all 5 prints, all stationery items, and postcards sent from the next 5 places Vernacular Typography documents.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
T-shirt, all 5 prints, all stationery items, postcards sent from the next 5 places Vernacular Typography documents, and a box of assorted ephemera.
Project By
Has not connected their Facebook account.
Molly Woodward is a graphic designer from Brooklyn, NY. She likes bagels, dapple dachshunds, and wandering. She graduated from RISD in 2008 with a BFA in Graphic Design. She finds writing about herself in the third person totally weird.
