We Like: Type With Pride

LGBTQ activist Gilbert Baker sadly passed away in March of this year. To mark his passing and celebrate his life, NewFest and NYC Pride teamed up with Fontself to design a new typeface in his honour.

As well as designing the iconic ‘Rainbow Flag’, Gilbert was also known for helping create banners for protests and marches. To continue this legacy, the “Gilbert” typeface was developed and is free for anyone to download, intended to be held high at pride events, protests, and rallies around the world.

“Gilbert” celebrates the iconic Rainbow Flag and it’s creator

The typeface pays tribute to the iconic flag, designed using the colours of the rainbow. Overlaying simple shapes gives the font a sleek, contemporary feel – bright and bold – perfect for shouting loud and proud! The team behind the font also produced a range of quote designs and animated gifs. Each shows off the colourful font’s endless potential in a different way.

Gilbert Baker, pride, graphic design, typography, rainbow, design

“Gilbert” uses all the colours of the iconic rainbow flag

The flag of diversity

The original Rainbow flag was flown in late 1970. Origin stories range from the flag being inspired by university protest, to Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”. Since then, it has become an icon in itself, synonymous with LGBTQ pride and all that it stands for. Celebrating both the flag’s history and its design, by immortalising it in a multifaceted typeface, allows this legacy to live on and is a fitting tribute to its designer.

Earlier this year, the font launched with a competition challenging creatives to celebrate diversity with their own designs inspired by the flag. Following the launch, responses poured in from creatives all over the globe.

Gilbert Baker, pride, graphic design, typography, rainbow, design

Each letter contains a different combination of shapes and colours

Gilbert Baker, pride, graphic design, typography, rainbow, design

The new font celebrates the iconic Rainbow Flag and it’s creator

Gilbert Baker, pride, graphic design, typography, rainbow, design

One of the many uses for “Gilbert” is poster designs

Gilbert Baker, pride, graphic design, typography, rainbow, design

“Gilbert” celebrates the iconic Rainbow Flag and it’s creator

Website: www.typewithpride.com

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Posted on Nov 8th, 17 by

Greg McIndoe - also known as Headless Greg - is an illustrator and design writer based in Glasgow, Scotland. He regularly writes for design magazines and online platforms, interviewing fellow illustrators and leading creatives.

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