Project: Gothux (Experimental Typeface Design)
Client: Self-driven project
Role: Designer + Art Director + Printer
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Gothux is a 36-character chromatic alphabet that reimagines physical glyphs as building blocks for new letterforms. The handset wood and metal type is composed as two separate forms, each void of meaning until one is overprinted upon the other and the character is revealed.
Gothux was designed using two typeface “ingredients” and is named for the two used to create its first letter, A: Gothic Black and Huxley Vertical. Gothic Black (printed in orange) is used in every character in Gothux, to create continuity throughout the alphabet’s design. The second typeface “ingredient”, printed in blue, varies.
Each “ingredient” was letterpress printed on paper (in orange ink) or clear mylar (in blue ink) using a Provisional Press. Each Gothux letter was then composed by overlaying the mylar layer onto the paper, taking care to stay true to 90° angles so that the character can be recreated in a traditional letterpress lockup.
As each Gothux character was created, a short video was taken with the intent to reveal how it was built from existing physical type. Once all 36 characters were complete, those short clips were compiled into a video showcasing Gothux’s full alphabet.
Experienced with working in agency and studio settings, Amy Redmond is an art director and visual designer who thrives on variety and a passion for typography. To keep her creativity refreshed, Amy balances digital design with time in her letterpress studio (Amada Press) in Seattle. She has taught typography, design, and letterpress printing at various schools in the Puget Sound region, and is an advisor and founding member of Partners in Print.
