This month, Eye magazine reviews the Walker’s new identity system. Described as a “pictographic font” or “utility” by Process Type Foundry‘s Eric Olson, Walker Expanded “functions as a typeface but instead of bold and italic fonts is grouped into related words, or vocabularies, and repeating patterns; it sets lines of words and textures that, like a roll of tape, can be applied to virtually anything–from printed matter and Web sites to merchandise or even architecture.” Created by Walker designer Chad Kloepfer with Olson and design director Andrew Blauvelt, the versatile stripes are everywhere around here, from our Shop bags and business cards to the Walker magazine and directional signage in the new (expanded, get it?) building. Eye heaps the praise:
The result is beautiful. A Times Square-like streaming river of information full of reverberating graphic patterns; it seems to be continuously flowing and changing. This is a brilliant example of a multi-voiced, reflexive, graphic (not corporate) identity that does what it says.
Also, check out today’s print edition of The New York Times to read a brief piece on the identity applied to shopping bags. Dynamic Graphics has more.
In other designy news: AIA Minnesota has launched a blog on local architecture. Check it out here.
Get Walker Reader in your inbox. Sign up to receive first word about our original videos, commissioned essays, curatorial perspectives, and artist interviews.