Typophile - Works from Oliver Vaughan - Comments

Part of the context he was

Eben Sorkin — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 20:38:20 -0800

Part of the context he was working in was punk. 23v was a graphic reaction away from the rough of punk but it wasn’t such a clean break that some of the DIY spirit wasn’t still there lingering. So being less than completely fussy about the type may have been natural especially early on. And with music I think looking to the immediate impact may be the greater virtue.

Having grown up with it like Tiff I probably don’t see it objectively though either. I did love all the variation and expressiveness in the type and in the use of it.

Ok, after some more reading

Stephen Coles — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 19:51:10 -0800

Ok, after some more reading and consulting with those who were around for Oliver’s peak, I think I’m gaining a better understanding of what makes him special. What I lacked was context. It sounds like his type certainly was original at the time and has since been copied by many. Like Yves said, no one used the antique scripts and stuff (deemed by a friend “granny type”) until he did. He was doing something new.

So I sheepishly retract my notion that his work wasn’t original.

But I still feel the type is lacking. It conveys the mood of the music and complements the imagery well, but the setting feels like an afterthought. Unrefined. It’s clear that his strengths are in art direction and illustration. The advice of an experienced typographer might have made the work even better.

I’m reminded of my feelings for Peter Saville, another “mood” designer. But I feel like Saville’s work has a complexity and wit that’s missing in some of these Oliver pieces.

> How much of Vaughan

Stephen Coles — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 19:34:50 -0800

> How much of Vaughan Oliver’s work have you actually seen?

Certainly not a big chunk, but everything in this thread is not impressive typographically. None of the decisions seem particularly interesting or original.

Great that you had personal experience with Vaughan. Please tell me more about what you learned from him regarding type use.

Thanks for that link, Conor!

Ricardo Cordoba — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 16:31:06 -0800

Thanks for that link, Conor!

“I think Vaughan is

Charles Grant — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 15:03:02 -0800

“I think Vaughan is overrated as a typographer. The photographs and moods are striking but I’ve seen a lot of stuff that looks pretty amateurish”

I find this comment laughable... I respect the fact that everybody has the right to their own opinion but come on? How much of Vaughan Oliver’s work have you actually seen?

I recommend adding Visceral Pleasures to your reading/viewing list.

I had the honor of a 3 month internship working with Vaughan and Chris at V23 back in 2002. I can tell you now, I learnt more in that 3 months, than a whole 3 years at university.

The guy is a genius. End of.

Something small but relevant

Conor — Thu, 7 Feb 2008 10:03:15 -0800

Something small but relevant to Vaughan Oliver (and his favourite font).

Wow, that’s a beautifully

Ricardo Cordoba — Sat, 4 Aug 2007 19:35:06 -0700

Wow, that’s a beautifully done site, Patric — thanks for the link!

this is by far the best

patricking — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 23:34:34 -0700

this is by far the best collected site of 23 envelope work i’ve found:

http://www.fedge.net/~desiderata/4ad20.html

> I forget which song that

Conor — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 06:08:38 -0700

> I forget which song that has the line Cocteau twins
It was the song Cocteau Twins.

AHA.. so they were 23

rosmedia — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 06:00:33 -0700

AHA..
so they were 23 envelope Thanx for that info Conor

I forget which song that has the line Cocteau twins... do you remember that as well?

A huge amount of their work

Conor — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 02:55:41 -0700

A huge amount of their work can be seen on 4AD’s website along with plenty of information regarding designers, design methods and nerdy band trivia.

Of course nothing beats walking into a used record store and finding old 4AD vinyl’s designed by Oliver and his collaborators. They are the only vinyl I own.

Yes, I noticed that

Bald Condensed — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 02:39:52 -0700

Yes, I noticed that collected examples of V23’s work are hard to find on the ’net. Somebody should set up an online gallery for them. Maybe even with type identifications to go with them.

any link to V23? v23 – but

Conor — Wed, 1 Aug 2007 02:15:40 -0700

any link to V23?
v23 – but no work on show.

what is V23? Vaughan

Conor — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:16:54 -0700

what is V23?
Vaughan Oliver’s company. v (Vaughan) 23 (his favourite number). Oliver worked in loose collaboration with photographer Nigel Grierson under the pseudonym 23 Envelope for years. Later, when setting up his own studio he used v23.

(a)
who is going to nail the font Cocteau Twins used on some of their early records?
It was hand-rendered by Oliver on the insistent request of the band. Earlier ones like Garlands were hand-rendered by Nigel Grierson.

(b)
who else knows why they chose the name Cocteau Twins
…Simple Minds

what is V23? any link to

rosmedia — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:30:13 -0700

what is V23?
any link to V23?

and I agree with Tiff... the 4AD album art were often great... and also the music! I still play my old Cocteau Twins records!

speaking of them...
(a)
who is going to nail the font Cocteau Twins used on some of their early records?
http://www.cocteautwins.com/html/discography/discog_03.html

(b)
who else knows why they chose the name Cocteau Twins

Works from Oliver Vaughan

damasu — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:55:49 -0700

hello friends,

can you help me to know which fonts were used here and tell me where I can find them ?

lot of thanks in adavnce,

damasu