Fedrigoni 365 – 2022 Bespoke Typographic calendar submission

The Fedrigoni 365 calendar, designed by TM Studio for Fedrigoni papers UK, annually invites UK-based creative studios and individual graphic designers to participate. This theme of collaboration has been continued for their 5th edition. However, this year the production has been modified to also allow for the inclusion of several printing specialists, showcasing the endless possibilities of finishing and bookbinding. The calendars can be purchased from Counter Print with all profits donated to the charity Mind.

It was an honour for Superfried design studio to participate for a fourth consecutive time, this year with the assigned date 8 July. Eight is one of my favourite numbers to experiment with. Consequently, I have created numerous bespoke typographic designs for eight over the years, covering a wide spectrum of illustration styles, so I was struggling to find a new creative direction.

I decided to look through unused design ideas for typography projects and stumbled upon some very exaggerated bespoke lettering. Originally used in a landscape orientation, rotation to portrait revealed a very condensed typographic design. The general form was striking, but far too flat and static. Continuing with my running theme for the previous typographic designs submitted to Fedrigoni 365 – 2019 . 2020 . 2021 – it was time to apply an element of depth.

The numerical form conveyed the essence of a grand historical stone doorway. This architectural style led to the creative solution of steps leading to the entrance. To maintain balance, the character was flipped and the addition of the stairway was replicated once more. It was here that the illusion was reversed at the top of the numeral, suggesting the steps were now coming out rather than leading into the page. The surreal, op-art effect was very apt ensuring the design solution was a worthy fourth addition to Superfried's ongoing collection of Fedrigoni 365 submissions.