Empathy, Reflection, and the Joys of Fonts

Contents:

• About the big
• About the small
• And about the heartfelt

Graduate of the Design Department at MPEI and the course "Font and A graduate of the British Higher School of Art and Design (BHA), she is an experienced type and graphic designer. As a co-founder of Bureaubooks, she is actively involved in the development of typographic design. She also teaches at BBE and BoldItalic. Her work includes typeface development for such major companies as Yandex, VKontakte, MTS, MegaFon, Arzamas, and many others. She is a finalist and winner of numerous prestigious competitions, including D&AD, ADC Awards, Modern Cyrillic, Granshan, Morisawa Type Design Competition, and the Sreda Festival.

About the Big One

One of the most significant events in my professional life this year was the creation of the Bureaubooks project. At the end of 2021, I teamed up with my colleagues Tamara Arkatova, Tanya Cherkiz, and Kirill Sirotin to jointly realize more ambitious and far-reaching ideas. We are committed to creative development and the creation of unique content that will be interesting and useful to our audience.

Before joining forces, each of us was freelancing, but we recognized the need for a change. We took a step that proved successful and continues to yield results. Byurobookv is actively operating, and while we are still developing personal projects, collaboration has become a priority.

Burobookv is a studio dedicated to letters and typography. We specialize in lettering and also create unique logos and display fonts. Our team is passionate about experimenting in design, which allows us to find original solutions for each project. We strive for high quality and a personalized approach to our work to meet the needs of our clients and stand out in the market.

• This year we have created several cool logos and letterings together, and one romanization. It's funny: usually clients come for Cyrillicization.

• And they even managed to draw two display fonts. One of them won gold in the open jury of the Sreda festival. This is a custom font for the Platform V cloud service — a neutral grotesque in the proportions of the SberSans font.

• We also worked with some great guys, for example, Sila Sveta and "Yandex".

We have successfully completed our work and achieved significant results. We expect that the new working year will bring us even more success and achievements.

Graduate of the Design Department of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute and a two-year course in Font and Typography at the British Higher School of Art and Design. She is a professional typeface and graphic designer, and co-founder of the Byurobookv studio. She teaches at BBE and BoldItalic, sharing her experience and knowledge in typography. She has worked on creating fonts for companies such as Yandex, VKontakte, MTS, MegaFon, Arzamas, and many others. She has repeatedly been a finalist and winner of prestigious competitions, including D&AD, ADC Awards, Modern Cyrillic, Granshan, Morisawa Type Design Competition, and the Sreda festival.

On the Small

In 2022, despite being busy with large commissions, I continued to work on personal projects. One of the most significant was the development of a font for a kalachnaya in Kolomna. This project was a real find for me, allowing me to express my creativity in a unique design.

Kalachnaya is a unique establishment where you can not only learn the history of the kalach but also bake one yourself. This place immerses visitors in an atmosphere of traditions and crafts. The interior is decorated in a pre-revolutionary style, creating a special atmosphere. Signs, made using an old technique using paints on metal, add authenticity. Kalachnaya offers a unique experience that will attract both culinary enthusiasts and those interested in the history of Russian cuisine.

With Marina Saanishvili from More, we decided to create a unique branding based on typeface. Our goal was to preserve the originality and character of the old signs, but transform them into a unified typeface style. We took photographs of the historical signs, processed the images in Photoshop, and began the drawing process. The original letters did not have uniform proportions, so we had to choose the optimal parameters to create the identity. As a result, the font is somewhat thinner and more display-like than on the original signs, but also more compact for typesetting. This approach allowed us to preserve the historical value while adding a modern twist, enhancing the brand's visual identity.

And about the heart

The last project I want to present is a self-initiated postcard. This project reflects my creative ideas and approaches to design. This card is designed in a unique style that emphasizes the importance of personalized messages. It can be used for a variety of occasions: congratulations, thanks, or simply to convey warm words. Creating such a card allows you to express your feelings and bring joy to loved ones. For the past seven years, I have been creating handmade New Year's cards. A card made with love is the perfect gift. For the past four years, I have been printing my works using letterpress printing, which allows me to produce textured and tactile products. The most difficult process remains the choice of text, while drawing brings real pleasure: there are no restrictions or technical tasks, you can create whatever inspiration suggests.

This year, the process of choosing the text was especially difficult. Due to current events, words were hard to find, and I was running behind schedule, as I needed to complete the publication before the New Year. Ultimately, I settled on the following text:

I express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported me, shared their knowledge, inspired me, and simply stood by me during difficult times. Your presence and assistance have become an essential part of my journey.

The phrase "Take care of the human within" from Chekhov's story "Ionych" reminds us of the importance of kindness and responsiveness in our interactions with others. No matter the circumstances, it is important to maintain humanity and strive to understand others. These qualities contribute to the creation of a harmonious society where everyone feels supported and cared for. Kindness and compassion help us overcome challenges and build strong relationships, making the world a better place for everyone.

The desire to inspire is a key concept that helps people achieve their goals and develop their creative potential. It's important not only to strive for self-improvement but also to inspire others to new achievements. This creates a positive atmosphere conducive to growth and development. Inspiration can take many forms, and its possibilities are limitless. Each of us can become a source of inspiration by sharing our ideas and experiences. Aspire to Inspire — this phrase reminds us of the importance of inspiration in our lives and the importance of supporting each other on the path to success.

I want to share my postcard-making process. I always start by sketching by hand with a pencil. Once I've settled on a concept, I redraw the chosen sketch on tracing paper with a brush pen. The final step is vector rendering, which gives the work a finished look. You are the first to see the results of this creative process.

Finding time for personal projects is essential. These projects are unencumbered by client pressure, strict deadlines, and technical specifications. They provide an opportunity to express your interests and values, allowing you to express your creativity and individuality. Personal projects contribute to skill development and can become the foundation for future professional achievements.

Personal projects created with passion, and not just according to technical specifications, often become a source of new clients. Such work attracts attention and generates interest, leading to requests for similar projects. This not only advances your career but also strengthens your passion for the profession. It's important to share your creations with an audience, as they highlight your creativity and ability to think outside the box.

Happy New Year! During this magical time, don't miss opportunities to experiment. Inspire creativity and kindness in those around you. The New Year is the perfect time for new beginnings and creativity. Let your ideas inspire others and create positive changes in their lives.

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Reading is an important aspect of personal and professional development. It not only broadens your horizons but also helps improve your critical thinking skills. Regularly reading books, articles, and research helps generate new ideas and approaches to problem solving. Reading also helps develop vocabulary and improves writing. It's important to choose a variety of genres and topics to maximize your knowledge and perception of the world. Don't forget the importance of reading for improving concentration and information retention.

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