Typography can be a code within a code, a game within a game, a system within a system.
Being able to push type to its limits, and sometimes beyond legibility, is something I find really fascinating.
I love both those words, chaos and control.
The future of type is… Whatever we want it to be.
But in truth, a lot of it is done by hand, or at least by logic.
I’d love it to be a bit of a handbook for people to create new letterforms or logotypes.
Creative Boom features 'Alphabetical Playground', a new 698-page book by Nigel Cottier, design director at Accept & Proceed. The book challenges conventional views of the alphabet, exploring typography as a living system open to experimentation and conceptual play. Through interviews and reflections, Cottier discusses pushing type beyond legibility and balancing chaos with control in design.
The Brand Identity interviews London-based designer Nigel Cottier about his project 'Letterform Variations,' a grid-based exploration of letterform construction that produced 19,840 unique characters. Developed alongside his work at Accept & Proceed and published by Slanted Publishers, the project culminated in a 692-page book showcasing the system’s creative potential. Cottier discusses his process, influences, and the interplay between experimentation and commercial design.