Type on tour...

There's something about wooden type that feels very playful. Reminiscent perhaps of building blocks or magnetic letters on the fridge. When words and phrases are compiled letter by letter it takes time and you're forced to consider the necessity ( and length ) of each one. This is no GCSE coursework, it does not need to be padded out.

Wooden type with printing press and baking string

I took some 'type on tour' to North Down Museum in Bangor, County Down to do a letter press demonstration. There's something magic about watching people feeling the pressure of the press and experiencing pulling their first print. That 'I made this!' moment.

It's maybe even more appealing now in an age of AI (is there anything more boring than reading artificially fashioned prose?). Using a letterpress makes you slow down and think, what do I really want to say?