Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing — Mary Egan Publishing Award for Best Typography 2019 FINALIST

Mary Egan Publishing Award for Best Typography 2019

Finalist

Tatau cover image

Designer: Arch MacDonnell, Inhouse Design
Title: Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing
Publisher: Te Papa Press
Format: 255 x 200mm, 300pp, hardback.  The half-jacket is reversible, with the peʻa tatau on one side, and the malu tatau on the other. Debossed title motif on the case.

Typography: A unique stencil typeface was created that draws on the shark tooth motif prevalent in Sāmoan tatau. This was used for the titles and chapter numbers. Support fonts are Lyon and Callibre. Leading and font sizes vary. The typeface is debossed onto the case of the book, and can be seen above the half jacket.


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