Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2012

A Lifetime of Type - Joseph Churchward



I have tremendous admiration for the tenacious type talent that Joseph Churchward has made his lifetime career. Born in Samoa in 1932, Joseph moved to New Zealand and has designed more than 650 typefaces throughout his prolific career as a typographer - later to be named as one of the world's most eminent typographic artists by Klingspor Museum.
 

I particularly adore Joseph’s ‘Churchward Alefapeta Samoa Poster’ - the palm tree frond encompassing the alphabet in Joseph’s Churchward Samoa typeface. 


We are very fortunate to have talented creative people contributing to New Zealand’s design history. Joesph's work was recognised by the established Designers Institute of New Zealand in 2009, followed by a Queen’s Service Medal and most importantly by a mammoth effort undertaken by TePapa and Joesph's family to collate his works into a living collection for us all to enjoy.


"Handlettering is superior" Joseph Churchward 1932-2013.