Dalston Type Safari
What does signage along a high street reveal about an area? What assumptions do you make that influence your choices? Will you take up the letter hunt challenge? (No prior experience needed, ideal for all).
Join author Sarah Hyndman for a walking tour of Dalston, a dynamic and fast changing area in East London. Learn about the signage along the way and how it creates the area’s own unique typographic DNA.
READ ALL ABOUT IT! Writer Ellen Himelfarb came along on a recent type safari, read her account of the evening published in AIGA’s Eye on Design.
“Look at Dalston’s signage in a whole new light on this tour of the area’s typefaces. The walks will reveal more about the area’s history, taking in art deco cinemas, a paint factory, pie and eel shop and the market that inspired Eastenders.“ Time Out
“I thought I knew Dalston well, but Sarah Hyndman’s fascinating Dalston Type Safari, opened my eyes to hundreds of years of history which had, quite literally, been staring me in the face. Who knew signage could reveal so much! Sarah’s passion and expertise for all things type related is infectious, it’s a wonderful tour for experts and ‘laypeople’ alike!” Alex Blum
We are surrounded by type and we use it to navigate our everyday lives. The letterforms we encounter as we walk down the high street influence our choices before we’ve even read the words. These also reveal a great deal about the the location, reflecting the social, economic and historical development of the area.
Dalston in East London is a vibrant area in which bars and shops are constantly popping up and the signage is ever changing. The signs along the main road, Kingsland Road, reveal layers of history dating back to when it was a London outpost in the 1800s with it’s own grand department store, pie & eel shops and a factory that sold paints to JMW Turner. Signs from the Art Deco cinemas have been preserved alongside the vernacular D.I.Y. signage of the market stalls and the lettering over the shops and restaurants that reflect the different communities who have made the area home over the years. Many venues, along with their signage, have become iconic landmarks.
• Spend time with like-minded people spotting signs.
• As an introduction to fonts for a novice, or a typographic indulgence for a graphic designer.
• Explore the city in a unique and revealing way.
• Hear about London history and the transformation of an area.
• Find out about great places to eat and drink in Dalston.
• Above all for fun. I want everybody to walk away smiling because typography is fun and exciting.
No experience is necessary. Whatever your level of knowledge you will find this an entertaining and enriching experience.
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Dalston Type Safaris have finished for 2016.
Tuesday 16th August “Wonderful tour for experts and ‘laypeople’ alike!” Alex Blum
Tuesday 26th July “Fascinating” oh comely magazine
Tuesday 12th July “Excellent… With lots of pub and music facts” Angus Montgomery
Tuesday 21st June “Signage in a whole new light” Time Out
Duration: 2.5 hours, places are limited so booking is essential. Refunds can only be given with 48 hours notice so that somebody else can be offered the place. End: Ruby’s Bar & Lounge, 76 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XB (or in the Type Tasting studio for a special post-walk session of games and experiments). Please note the safari will take place whatever the weather, bring a raincoat or umbrella if appropriate.
(It may be possible to arrange a different date although these are very limited. Please get in touch if you and a group of friends are interested, or to commission a private Type Safari).
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“Type Safari was brilliant! Fun as well as thought-provoking” Caroline LD
“Venture into a whole world of fonts. You don’t need any previous creative expertise to take part, just some love for letters.” Time Out
“A unique & interesting way to ‘read’ the city.” Sophie Nellis
“Informative but not stuffy, fun but not dumbed down, it was a pleasure to learn a brief history of type and get more of an insight into one of London’s most interesting areas.” Emily Gosling, Design Week
“Sarah’s enthusiasm and energy for type came through. Loved it.” Cathy Hull
“Fabulous tour of Dalston… Exploring the urban fabric through type” Sarah Stewart, Londonist
I’m Sarah Hyndman your Type Safari guide. I’m a graphic designer, author of ‘Why Fonts Matter‘ and founder of Type Tasting. I’m involved in research into perception and reading and I specialise in making the complex subject of typography accessible beyond the design studio—with originality, humour, a dash of theatre and lashings of audience participation.
I give you insights into the ‘secret’ messages hidden in words that affect your thoughts, feelings, experiences and behaviour. Different fonts trigger your imagination, evoke your emotions, prompt memories and link to all of your senses. You instinctively understand this but it happens on a subconscious level, independently of what the words are spelling out. I invite audiences to join in with lively games and demonstrations as you take part in the discovery process. Whatever your level of knowledge you will find this an entertaining and enriching experience.
I’ve appeared on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live, my work has been featured by Wired, CNN and the FT, you can watch my talks for TEDx and It’s Nice That.
Type Tasting Blog 