Alf Becker graced the pages of "Signs of the Times" magazine month after month for decades, presenting attractive and unusual hand lettered alphabets as inspiration for other sign painters and show card writers. From straightforward text faces to novelty ideas, Becker's talent as a master sign crafter was constant in his work. Show Card Casual JNL is one example of what is referred to as a "one stroke" alphabet (utilizing a single brush stroke in each direction to form the letter or number). Its casual look and playful charm allow for a message to be presented in an informal format that is pleasing to the eye. The type design is available in both regular and oblique versions. Special thanks to Tod Swormstedt of ST Publications for providing the reference material.

Das Riese, a type specimen by the most productive Brazilian type foundry, Intellecta Design, is a mix of victorian and art deco influences. A beautiful display type for tiling with uppercases only. It's shadows and volumes refer to pre-modern age whereas its surface to last century 20's. This heavy sans serif strokes characters have a particular appearance, a parallel line texture that reminds Bifur, typeface created in 1929 by A. M. Cassandre. The sideways absence of volume at some leaning letters right side in addition to the patchy darkness of shadows support its handmade design. A type full of historical references designed to small titles printed in big sizes. It's impossible not to think about posters when you look at Das Riese strong face. - (source Slanted Magazine #8)

What does a 1932 movie about a love affair between a circus' trapeze artist and a sideshow "little person" have to do with the 1960s counter-culture? They both share some commonalities. The title card for Tod Browning's "Freaks" inspired the lettering design for Hippie Freak JNL. It's in a retro style that was embraced by the youth movement that had its epicenter in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Circus performers with birth defect abnormalities were displayed in what was referred to as "freak shows"; while young men with long hair and beards who sought peace, love and an end to the war in Vietnam were commonly referred to as "hippie freaks". As the saying goes "the more things change, the more they stay the same".