{ The fine art of printing }

In 1555 Christoffel Plantin opened a printing establishment in Antwerp, Belgium called the Gilded Compass. 21 years later he moved into a building that now houses the Plantin Moretus Museum.

It is here that Plantin created one of the world’s leading printing and publishing houses and the reason why he became known as the most important printer of his era.

After Plantin’s death his son-in-law Jan Moretus took over the firm and today the museum houses the printing offices, workshop, library and printing room, all of which have been preserved in their original state.

This museum is a must see for all lovers of typography and printing. The museum houses an original Gütenberg Bible, the world’s two oldest printing presses, original typographical matrices by Garamond and the first printed Atlas. If this doesn’t get you weak at the knees – which it should, there are over 30 rooms filled with beautiful printing archives, artworks and printing equipment.

The museum also organises workshops on printing techniques and typography and seems to be very child friendly.

Photos by Design Loving and Iwona Marczak

{ Mighty Type }

Anna Garforth has an amazing talent for transforming everyday spaces and materials into Typographic works of wonder. Whether it be moss, masking tape, leaves or cookie dough, Garforth’s magic fingers create memorable messages that evoke social change.

‘Play More’ was commissioned by Netherlands’ local arts organisation. In this piece Garforth aimed to break up the heavy architectural landscape with bursts of typographic colour to encourage play outside of designated play zones.

‘Wild at Heart’ was created in rural Catalunya, Spain. Garforth used Masking Tape as her material and a wire fence as her grid.

‘Rethink’ was created to promote green street art and was filmed by Arte TV, Germany.

{ Write a Bike }

How super cool are these bikes! ‘Write a Bike’ is a personal design project by Swiss Art Director Juri Zaech. I really hope that these bikes go into production one day. I’d love to have one of my own! Visit Juri’s Behance page to see more bikes and his awesome typographic work.