MACHAS

When type meets abstract illustration: Ray Oranges & Federico Landini prints

Ray Oranges’ rigorous illustrated shapes has met the meticulously exact type of Federico Landini to create four limited edition prints. The project, a spontaneous collaboration between two long time friends, was originated from the shared passion for creativity and went on to win the 2016’s Type Directors Club Certificate of Typographic Excellence. As Ray admits “Federico and I both have a shared love for geometric, rational, angular art and I immediately loved the idea to collaborate on a illustrated version of his type”.

The inspiration for the artwork came from a very personal approach aimed at creating a colourful patchwork of letters: “we focused from the very beginning on two, very different approaches,” recalls Federico: “ to develop very colourful and geometric shapes, even if they weren’t that easy to read, whilst leaving room for the viewer to experience each artwork with her own imagination.  I think Ray’s art allows a multiplicity of point of views and I wanted to explore it through my type design.”

“We chose the four words Life, Love, Home, Time because they are the axis of human existence,” tells Ray. “Four universal concepts that happens to be all four letters words —  quite convenient as well!” adds Federico.

The project is the first collaboration between Ray and Federico and it was a surprisingly rewarding experience, “ a chance to participate to a completely different creative process” as Ray puts it.

The project was submitted to the annual Type Directors Club and was awarded the Certificate of Typographic Excellence award, a welcomed recognition of Federico’s excellent typographic work and Ray’s art versatility.