‘Characters’ by Stephen Banham

What’s it about?

We come into contact with typography and signage every day, and they characterise the place where we live. Whether new or old, each sign tells its own story. In ‘Characters’, Stephen Banham investigates the signage and typography of a city and brings together a rich collection of quirky, gripping and humorous stories. Read how the blown fuse of a neon sign led to the discovery of music instruments that had been forgotten in a train station for 50 years and why a sign eliciting illegal gambling had to be removed. ‘Characters’ analyses typography used in architecture and advertising and is sure to enthuse historians and designers alike. Based on a wealth of examples, Banham shows that typography is an underestimated form of cultural expression which shapes the way we perceive our surroundings. Once you’ve read this book, you’ll never look at road signs the same way again.

Why did we select this book?

We walk past signs every day without being aware of their history. Readers of this book are sure to view their surroundings in a more deliberate way in the future. Language and typography enthusiasts will certainly be enriched by this volume, which picks up on the very elements that so inspired us at the Font Walk in Helsinki.