People powered: Split's Graft typeface goes digital for the North

Designed as a display face for Split's giant People Powered Press, Graft is a new condensed typeface forged in the north of England for the largest letterpress printing press in the world per Guinness World Records.

The typeface has been expanded for digital release in four weights and with an extensive character set.

“The letters’ forms take inspiration from the north’s rich industrial heritage, using the shape of the cross section of a steel I-beam as their starting point. But it’s through their purpose, to amplify local voices – in part realised through the creation of the People Powered Press – that Split offers up Graft as a typeface for the North” notes Leeds-based studio Split. 

“Broad ee-bah-gum-Yorkshire is by no means the only language spoken in the north of England. Graft’s extensive character set has been designed in recognition of the region's linguistic diversity. Over 300 languages are now spoken in the UK. For the many northerners speaking the wide variety of languages using the Roman alphabet, Graft works.”

Split has collaborated with paper company Fedrigoni & printers Pressision to create a sampler for Graft, which comes in a zip-perf folder, holding a singer stitched booklet and fold-out poster that tells the story of the typeface’s design and how the People Powered Press came to be. The sampler is printed throughout in black and metallic silver.

Split has also created a limited edition set of prints using Graft on the People Powered Press. The four fonts, the sampler and the prints are all available from Split’s shop, here.

“Proceeds from all sales of the sampler, font, and prints will be used to support the People Powered Press and its work” adds the design studio made by and for the people, Split. 

For more on the People Powered Press, officially the world's largest letterpress printing press per Guinness World Record, in London head over here.

All images via Split