New North Press commissions a 3D-printed letterpress font, designed by A2-Type

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London's New North Press is on a mission to bring letterpress into the 21st century. To combine the oldest form of print technology with the very latest innovations, the Hoxton-based studio turned to Scott Williams and Henrik Kubel of A2-Type to design a letterpress font that could be 3D printed. 'It was really important to us that the design was something that challenged the notion of what letterpress could be and tested what 3D printing was capable of,' says Richard Ardagh, a New North Press partner. 'When Scott and Henrik presented their design of the letter forms being a wireframe, I knew we were in new territory that felt exciting.' The A23D font was fabricated by specialist model makers Chalk Studios and is now a working part of New North Press' library of type. The project has been documented by Adrian Harrison, whose film – a shortened version of which is previewed here - will premiere at the Victoria & Albert Museum on 13 September as part of London Design Festival's Graphic Weekend.

Victoria & Albert Museum, Seminar Room 1, Learning Centre Screening times: 12:00, 14:30, 16:00 & 17:00