Lonsdale typeface alphabet designed by Tom Lucey

Lonsdale

2019

Services

Typeface design

To revive a relic found on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne, I designed a custom typeface.

Lonsdale typeface design process. Print outs of letters with pencil markings of edits to be made.
Print out of font letters with pencil markings of edits
No items found.
Wandering the streets of Melbourne’s Central Business District, I stumbled upon a collection of hand painted signs. Harking back to the mid 20th century, they bear testimony to a diverse range of trades that once populated the area. The ghost signs remain from Robert T. Martin, a celebrated furniture maker who started his business in the 1930s, and Neeter & Briggs, furriers who began their venture in 1953– a time when hand painted signs were the popular approach for wayfinding. The letters were created with a flat brush which gives their form a particular character. The slight outward flairs at the top and bottom of downward strokes are such an example. I started with the letter R and then adapted the DNA from that letter to another 6 or so letters. From there the alphabet started to fill itself out.
Flat brush lettering on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne
Antonio's Gelateria

I am delighted  that the typeface has been used by Giuseppe Santamaria as a headline font in the Australia & New Zealand publication The Robb Report.

Get in touch if you'd like to purchase Lonsdale.

The Robb Report magazine featuring font designed by Tom Lucey
The Robb Report magazine designed and photographed by Giuseppe Santamaria
No items found.
The Robb Report cover design
No items found.

Credits

Tom Lucey

Typeface design

Giuseppe Santamaria

Robb Report layout and photography

Melbourne Ghost signs

Instagram page authored by Sean Reynolds, uncovering the fading history of Melbourne & Victoria through its ghost signs & architecture.