“Playtype.com, one of Europe’s preeminent online font foundries, has opened a gorgeous brick-and-mortar shop in Copenhagen dedicated to flogging digital typefaces. Customers can walk in off the street and buy fonts loaded on USBs that resemble little credit cards. The shop also sells a ragbag of typographic gifts and paraphernalia, including T-shirts, posters, and even wine.

E-Types, the Danish design agency behind Playtype.com, bills the shop as “the first of its kind” in the world. We can’t verify that, but it’s certainly a departure from the standard practices of the day, in which type foundries, both big and small, distribute their wares as downloads or via email.” 

(via World’s First: An Apple Store for Type Geeks [Slideshow] | Co.Design)

Staring out of a rain-soaked window this miserable Monday morning?

Enjoy these beautiful shots of Las Vegas typography instead, courtesy of photographer Jean-François Thériault. Just click the image above to see the full set.

(Thanks to the designworklife blog for the find.)

Creative brand environments - the brand as “art”

Like many, we were impressed with this Nike installation created out of 5,500 footballs for this year’s world cup.

The Cool Hunter blog has gathered together a great gallery of similarly grandiose brand installations, which they’re (rather excitedly) describe as “brands tapping into the art space.”

Even if you’re not prepared to go as far as hanging thousands of footballs in a shopping centre, there is a great power in tapping the visual language of your brand to create a dramatic physical presence. Irish company Made in Hollywood has carved out a particularly successful niche for themselves in executing the giant-sized branded elements needed to make these ideas work, even if you’re not on Nike’s budget.

How could your brand communicate more creatively and memorably in a physical space?