House Industries Lettering Manual

As a sign painter, graphic designer and illustrator of many years, I have always been fascinated with typography, fonts, etc. This book has helped in many ways to take type design to another level while still incorporating the basics. How so?By going into the ramifications of positive and negative space between letters and entire words, the typeface now has become not just letters on a board or page, but a graphic element. That graphic element can now be combined with other font characteristics to create a mashup, or one's own unique and original typeface if one so chooses to take it that far.Each page, and I mean each page...is a graphically designed master work. These guys wanted to make sure that this was all about typography, so the examples are specifically addressed in each pages' illustration. There is none of the "start here" stuff or exercise #1 jargon. The author has a fun and loose descriptive delivery and expects one to pick up a pencil and join in the fun when ready. With the stellar illustrative capabilities this guy has it is a joy to draw along for the rideThe most interesting aspect of the book is the process of building a logotype or brand. It is amazing the ones that get thrown out, places where I would have normally stopped designing. They take it to the wall!

This manual is everything I ever wanted in other lettering and sign-work books that failed to deliver. Every concept you can and can’t imagine relating to the design of letters, words, and whole images is described in detail in a way that is easy to understand for even the most novice letterer. I read it from front to back like a novel (as recommended, but also because it’s simply a great read) and my sign painting skills immediately improved immeasurably. The foreward by Jimmy Kimmel was a nice surprise too.

My husband made me buy this book for our reference library. It’s nice with some good lettering ideas.

The book is chocked full of good tips for the budding letter designer that doesn't feel intimidating like some of these materials can be. Ken's writing style is entertaining and easy to follow.

Ken Barber is not only one of the premier lettering artists in the world, but a gifted teacher as well. This book is probably the single most helpful book I have ever read on the craft of hand lettering. It is full of very understandable instruction and helpful suggestions, and has activities for the reader. The book is also packed with amazing case studies and the process that went into the finished art work. Not just a book of pretty photos, this is the real deal for anyone wanting to learn what goes into professional hand lettering.

I bought this as a required textbook for my major. I really enjoy the way that barber shows a variety of lettering and techniques. My only critique is the lack of page numbers. Some spreads include no page numbers, making it sometimes difficult to find the pages you need.

Very Good Book

Less than halfway through reading this and I’m obsessed. Love the education I’m receiving. The author knows his craft and how to convey decades of experience in a creative and thorough way with zero monotony in the writing style. Funny anecdotes and comments in parenthesis acknowledge lighthearted aspects of the subject matter as well as how it relates to popular culture. I am a brand-centered graphic designer with an academic fine arts background who has always been obsessed with the act of writing words and names as drawing subjects. This book will up my game, guaranteed.