Calligram design
and creative typography
What’s a calligram?
A calligram is a poem (though it can also be a phrase or single word) in which the typeface or handwriting forms are an important part of the focus. (Wikipedia)
Calligrams are used in many companies’ marketing strategies because they are visually appealing and allow for unique communication.
Whenever possible, and given the appropriate client and requirements, I use this communication technique to enhance posters, books, and marketing materials.
• A gallery of posters, theatrical brochure covers, fliers and inside pages of a book of photographs
Calligram design for the corporate identities of the theatrical season, “Poeti, filosofi e giuliari” (Poets, philosophers and minstrels) in the south of Milan, Italy.
«These theatrical seasons featured comedies by the most famous current italian comic actors. For one season I chose a quote written by the most famous comic of italian literature and cinema: “La preghiera di un clown” (The prayer of a clown) from the movie “Lo spettacolo piu comico del mondo” (The funniest show on Earth) of Totò (Antonio De Curtis), ca. 1960.)
The face of the clown is made only with type: the parenthesis make the eyebrows, the stars make the eyes and the hair, the nose is a period and the V together with the { make the mouth.» —Laura Ruggeri
Inside pages of a photographic reportage book all use calligrams as multilingual captions to support the story behind each photograph.
For example, a picture shows a young man dreaming, and the calligram/caption explains what he is dreaming about: flying away in search of new adventures and opportunities.
Another image shows a monkey and a dog, with the calligram/caption indicating what they are both thinking about: lunch.
