C O N C I O U S N E S S




In a nutshell, what do you do?

For work I design books mainly focussed on art, architecture and photography; for play I combine my love of lettering, textiles and craft into knitted and crocheted pieces.


What’s your creative process; how do you get stuff done?

Very much routine based, I concentrate on book design in the day leaving the evenings free for my letter experiments.

I walk (a lot) taking photos of lettering in all its forms from classic signage to people's lettering interactions with their surroundings. This is also the best time to have, and think through, new ideas.


Everyone works differently. When did you become aware that your creative process is your own?

At art school I realised my love of typography and how it could be collaged, distressed and taken to the limits of legibility was a different approach to other students - adding to that a love of materials and craft became a less usual way of working.


When are you most creative?

Definitely not at 4 in the afternoon when I can happily just lay my head on my desk. Probably between 10-2 and then 6-9, I would always choose to work late rather than early.


Can you be creative in a vacuum or do you need outside influences to help?

I need constant input from the street, people, exhibitions, books and the radio.





E X I S T E N T I A L I S M




Did you seek being creative or did creativity find you?

As a child I was always making and doing: filling sketch books with repeat patterns; and making many paper pairs of shoes for dolls. I didn't see type as a particular discipline until I was about 17 but after that it was the only option.


Do you think your background has had an effect on your creativity?

I come from a practical rather than creative family. My grandmother owned a wool shop and taught my sister and I how to knit and crochet at an early age.


Have you ever struggled with creativity?

Every project can begin with the question - will this work? In the end you just need to try things out, though there's never enough time.





D I S R U P T I O N




Is there any one person, thought or thing that’s changed the way you think?

Many more than one. My art teacher at school who taught me the basics of calligraphy. My design tutor at art school who taught me the discipline of looking and then looking even more closely. A typographer who made me realise that I didn't need to accept letters as they were designed – I could adjust or reinvent them.


Do you have one piece of advice for anyone starting out as a creative?

Try everything, it's all one big experiment. If it's interesting to you - it's interesting.





R E F L E C T I O N




Do you think creativity has defined you?

Looking at my walls and bookshelves I am completely surrounded by everything typographic so I think that would be a yes.


What would you like to do if you weren’t doing what you do now?

So many things but probably all letter based. I am curious about trying more three-dimensional art forms. I really need to think about a 'Lettering on Buildings' book too!.





T H A N K   Y O U






Find Nicola Bailey as @narbailey and via @typeknits on Instagram.