The substantial metal type collection at Starshaped Press is constantly growing and evolving alongside my life experiences that are deeply rooted in Chicago. The urban environment is the backdrop for this typographic memoir that showcases the studio’s type collection and serves as a pictorial representation of the first 25 years of my life in the city. My 2017-18 fellowship at The Newberry Library provided research support for the project and my day to day movement through the city was the guiding force and inspiration.

Ten Prints, or ELEVATIONS, cover the themes of printing, women, labor, music, neighborhoods, architecture, motherhood and perseverance. Each tells a story in image and anecdote while featuring a grouping of typefaces based on my approach to the subject. Ten CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS designed to resemble traditional architectural bluelines explain and document the text and typography of the prints. They are combined together in a clamshell portfolio.