Shakespeare's Sonnet n°38

August 15, 2017

Last year I got a chance to participate in a Sonnets 2016 project organized by Alexandra Franklin, coordinator of the Bodleian's Centre for the Study of the Book in Oxford, commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death.
At the beginning of 2016, the Bodleian invited printers around the world to submit hand-printed copies of each of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets - a cycle of 154 short, 14-line poems first published in 1609, where William Shakespeare meditated on themes of love, death, and desire. Each printer had to choose sonnet and all 154 hand-printed works, in various languages, were added to the permanent collection and I'm proud to be amongst them.

Quick links

March 19, 2017

1. On the Lower East Side of Manhattan, single volumes are trimmed and glued by hand as they have been in this tiny workshop for the last 50 years - link
2. DADA ist 100 exhibition is currently on display at the Museum der Arbeit in Hamburg
3. Librarium is an archive of hundreds illustrated publications Russian emigration did between World Wars I and II curated by Fiodor Soumkine
4. Vernissage druk druk druk grafiek expo in Wide screen gallery in Gent, 31.03-31.05.17

Ian Gabb. MIAT. Monotype.

April 17, 2016

Almost every printing & typecasting equipment at the printing department of the MIAT museum is frequently used: Heidelberg, Ludlow, Linotype, FAG and other proof presses, but the Monotype is one of a few we seldom see in action. But when a few weeks ago Patrick brought Ian Gabb, a British designer/printer to the MIAT to inspect the Monotype Super Caster we were sure they will make it work again.

Type Journal in Belgium

January 9, 2016

It is been a while that I've been in contact with editors of Type Journal (Журнал «Шрифт»), an online journal devoted to type design, visual culture and typography in the Russian-speaking world. So at the beginning of the year, while being on holidays with friends in Berlin they've decided to visit Belgium for a few days. A perfect moment for a typographic meeting!

Yerevan. Museum of Literature and Art.

October 17, 2015

This year I took another week off to visit my family in Yerevan. Yesterday when strolling around the city I've discovered the Museum of Literature and Art after Yeghishe Charents. This tiny museum, situated behind the National Gallery, includes archives of almost all classics of Armenian literature, theater, music and cinematographic art from the 18th century up till now. In fact it is the continuation of Mashtots Matenadaran (repository of ancient manuscripts).

Cyrillic wood type

September 19, 2012

A couple of days ago I came across this image of Cyrillic wood type from the Hamilton museum archive. I'm always getting excited when I see Cyrillic wood type examples as they are difficult to find and I didn't know the Hamilton had one.

Holiday card from Russia

December 13, 2011

The New Year is coming soon, which means it's time to print holiday cards. Many websites & blogs already posted holiday cards roundup's, but this one comes from Russia. Designed by Ivan Gulkov using national colors and patterns the cards were printed by "Cliché" letterpress studio from Penza (Russian Federation).

October 2, 2026

Type walk in Ghent. Before & after. Oudburg.

When walking through Oudburg in Ghent, which I do quite often, I have noticed a number of small changes over the years. Signs disappear. Façades are repainted. Businesses move on. New lettering takes their place.

None of these changes is particularly dramatic. But together they tell us something about how the visual identity of a street evolves.

July 5, 2026

Type Walk in Ghent. Before & After. Looking up: the fading letters of Cockney's Distillery.

A couple of weeks ago, during the annual flea market on Lange Violettestraat, I found myself doing what I probably do too often: looking up.

While most people were browsing records, ceramics and old books, my attention drifted towards the façades. That's when I noticed it. Barely visible beneath layers of age and weather, a painted sign slowly emerged from the brickwork.

May 24, 2026

Type walk in Ghent. Before & after. 90 years of Dossche Sport.

Dossche Sport is one of the symbols of Ghent’s rich cycling heritage — a business rooted in professional racing history, family tradition, and nearly a century of dedication to the bicycle culture of the city.

March 28, 2026

Type walk in Ghent. Before & after. Marchandises & stories.

Tucked away near Sint-Jacobsplein in Ghent once stood a place that many locals still remember with a certain nostalgia: Marchand’10. The name Marchand’10 (Marchandise) — French for “merchant” — suited the place perfectly. This was never just a shop, but a world of its own. It felt more like wandering into a densely packed cabinet of curiosities.

January 18, 2026

Type walk in Ghent. Before & after. Only “Beerhouse” remains.

Het Waterhuis aan de Bierkant is one of Ghent’s most recognizable cafés. With its large beer selection and sunny terrace along the water, it attracts locals and visitors from all over the world. But this is more than just a place to have a drink—it’s a building with a long and surprising history.

January 6, 2026

Type walk in Ghent. Before & after or from lace to lunch: the changing story of Kraanlei 33.

It’s been quite a while since I started my Sunday type walks. What began as a simple stroll through the city—my only free day as a self-employed graphic designer—quickly became a way to move, clear my head, and indulge my long-standing fascination with typography in all its forms. Whenever I arrive in a new city, I instinctively take a type walk; the streets are full of hidden typographic gems, waiting to be discovered.

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