Victorian Menu

While trying to find out some Victorian typefaces, I came across this on the Typophile forums:

It demonstrates the use of a range of woodblock/Victorian-esque typefaces all working together on the menu card and identity for the restaurant. The display typefaces sit well in a contemporary environment while still shouting out to the viewer, lifting that section off of the menu. It contains many of the elements I have found to be part of the 'Victorian' look, decorative break lines, double-line boarder, the mentioned mix of sans-serif and serif typefaces and even the black and white 'pointing hand' at the bottom of the menu.

'Contemporary' Victorian Style

While looking at Victorian styles, I don't want to be producing work that looks old, just merely hints at it. Hammerpress, a letterpress & design studio, demonstrates the principle of taking Victorian inspired elements, such as decorative boarders, mixed up typefaces and a generally busy feel and managing to make that look contemporary.

If you want to see more of their work you can visit their website here.

Victorian Adverts

Victorian Signage

Graphic Design History – The Victorian Age Lecture

While researching Victorian graphic design I found a lecture from Parkland College's Graphic Design program on Victorian Graphic Design. A summary of the key points of the lecture are:

• The Victorians loved complex, ornate objects (which can be seen in their architecture and fashion) and this style was applied to their advertising and typography.
• The Victorian look was influenced by nostalgia for old objects.
• Elements on a page were often framed by decorative boarders.
• Symmetry was also used heavily within Victorian layouts and designs.
• Illustrations were often used instead of photography.
• Faux cloth banners were commonly used to hold text.
• Victorian style tended to use the majority of the page which led to busy layouts/minimal white space.
• Typography often appeared on a curve or wave.
• The Victorian style also tended to romantacise situations to sell products.
• Decorative typefaces were often mixed with chunky serif fonts as well as sans-serif and condensed typefaces (most probably to squash more information into the crowded designs).

The lecture slideshow can be viewed in full here.

Victorian Graphic Design

I have been looking at Victorian graphic design as part of my H.G. Wells brief. While the brief asks for no 'Victoriana' designs, I have decided to look at the style to see if there are elements I can lift and use in my covers, to link back to the stories' heritage, while staying and feeling contemporary.

There is a post over at the Attitude Design Journal that catalogs some of the Victorian styles:

First thoughts seem to be common usage of heavy display/title fonts, mixing more than one typeface in a single design (that would anywhere else clash together, but in this style it seems to work) and use of decorative elements such as lines, thick-thin boarders, wavy lines, etc.

H.G. Wells Covers – Penguin Classics

Here are all 5 covers from Penguin's Classics range:

While the illustration style is very different for all the covers, the bottom 3rd of the page, which is dedicated to a standardised title strip, ties all the books together and they feel part of a set.

The History of Mr. Polly – Film Adaptations

While researching H.G. Wells book covers I came across the artwork for some film adaptations of The History of Mr. Polly:

There's a strong theme of bikes running throughout these, probably an iconic object in the story. Something I could perhaps use myself?

H.G. Wells Book – Cover Research

Ann Veronica

The History of Mr Polly

Kipps

Love & Mr. Lewisham

Tono-Bungay