Retro Logos

I’ve always loved and have always been inspired by vintage letterforms. Back in the pre-digital age I cut my creative teeth as a hand letterer, literally lettering by hand—with pen and ink, on vellum. This was a highly valued skill, and back then I worked with book publishers, magazines, and advertising agencies in creating customized letterforms that helped elevate their projects into a special place; a bespoke approach to design that I still employ nearly three decades after having made the transition over to the digital world.

The challenge of interpreting the look of a particular era—whether it’s 1875, 1935, or 1975—is something that I relish. Creating a piece of art that screams “1959 Los Angeles” or “1886 St. Louis” affords me the opportunity to become a time traveler. Researching the look of certain time and place adds to the appeal. The images above, created for a range of clients, represent some of my favorite design excursions to the past.