Lewis Tsalis
Australian by birth, Lewis Tsalis spent several years in the USA as a type and graphic designer. He even won a Best of Show award from the Advertising Designer Club of Delaware.
He returned to his native Australia in 1995, and was shocked to discover that there were few active type designers, apart from Stephen Banham of Letterbox, in the country. When he discovered, from a T-26 mailing, Damien Mair, the pair decided to set up their own foundry. The result was Type[A]. The foundry now boasts a fascinating collection of distinctive typefaces, including Tsalis' own. His typefaces have graced publications such as Playboy as well as CD covers and advertisements.
He takes inspiration from diverse sources. For example, Conques was inspired by a 10th century cathedral he encountered in a medieval village in southern France. In stark contrast, the inspiration for Devit came from a Corgi Batmobile model.
[LC, December 2009]
