NGS Design Deck

Part 1. Design Integration


An intro

NGS Concept + Bespoke + By Hand

Concept is the single most important part and driving force behind an NGS design.

Our concept is always inclusive. Combining the correct end-to-end processes is the centre of our creative pool.

Bespoke – Symbolises our resonant bond to the individual and unique.

Here in the NGS Design deck we offer a way for you to view how we do things – knowing we are aiming for best-of-class.

The 3 eclectic parts that assemble all we do for both mini and monolithic scaled projects are:

Design integration | NGS Human Fonts | EDGES: NGS installation

About drawing by-hand – initiating ideas

All things by hand has become a signature of the very recent design paradigm shift. In many crafts and industries drawing is still the start point.

The script layout below illustrates our love of drawing – creating on-the-fly like this often initiates eclectic, spontaneous ideas.

All NGS projects start this way.

Into the Outside World

A faint, accurate and minimally traced drawing, sets up the painting of these numbers in Strawberry Hill, London.
The final piece.

Case: Numeral draw up in situ

Creating clear cohesive numerals from the hand allows intuitive decisions about the overall character and emotion of the form to take place. It also sets up the concept, visual charrete, placement of scale in its ascribed context.

Digital process – production meetings

I progressed my career in the creative arts and lettering industry working mainly by hand but as the early versions of desk-top publishing appeared I was drawn to the benefits of creating and completing work quickly, clearly and independently.

Nick Garrett

We meet and round table 3-6 hours per week in order to properly explore all pertinent design ideas of the day – and the direction we are aiming for each week, month and year. Orientation is essential.

We combine alongside the pencil, Adobe Suite and Fontlab as appropriate design tools.

NGS Painted House numbers names Traditional sign writers of London NGS Dulwich Margate Chelsea signwriters
Each final piece is what it is: yet it’s also often a storyboard of ideas, history, inspiration and much practice.

Design integration – inspiring

At NGS drawing with a pencil or in a CAD suite is homogeneous: a catalyst for detail and multiple versions.

Both modes enhance our bespoke design grain.

We are convinced that everything that is ‘made’ is garnered by eye and inescapably analogue and as we look at the history of type these notions are supported by evidence.

Our bespoke Font Manufacture: NGS Manston Demi Font – and it’s inspiration.
Blue Sky of Pompeii, Italy. Home of the famous Trajan alphabet (c75ad) and inspiration for our exclusive typeface version. Bespoke Font Manufacture: ‘NGS Trajan Restored’ is the resulting dedicated letter style we use across London today.

For our design-deck philosophy to work, it is essential to be able to govern both analogue and digital skills seamlessly.

More reading coming up soon…

Design integration | NGS Human Fonts | EDGES: NGS Installation