This would be a perfect reward on Kickstarter to revamp the forum.

I’ll bring it to Jared’s attention next time I make a report. And I need a new jacket too. This one here has cotton sleeves, Not sure you can customize the leather sleeved jackets. I have a request in as we speak.

Can we pick custom texts on the back? Something like
"Born to lead"
"Full metal body"

Chris,

I've been talking to Jared in private recently about a revamp that he'll hopefully share with the community. I hope it works out.

Anyway, what will the design of the letter be?

Not sure what the design of the letter would be. Not even sure if it’s a jacket. I was more interested in generating different ideas for merchandise, not jacket logo design per-sé. We could debate logo design ’till the cows come home, and still be stuck on jacket. Kind of like putting the horse before the cart, or as I do, pick a font before I write the paper.

How about a paper-weight for those of us who still like paper? My grandfather left me a really nice gold one.

I don’t need another coffee mug.

An apron like the kind letterpress printers wear would be pretty sweet.

Any other ideas?

(and best to use my last name too when there is more than one Chris in the thread ;)

Something to declare one's allegiance to type. Using this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48413419@N00/6289279499

hhp

A flag. Very cool. I’d fly that.

A badass patch to sew on to the back of a jean-jackat would be an other clothing-bassed idea.

I could use a new canteen or water bottle, I’m now trying to think or other utilitarian objects that have some sort of typographic association that aren’t like event-related swag (landfill).

Remember, at this point in the game, there are no stupid ideas. Just throw them out there. Oftentimes they interact and spark new ideas.

*ponder*

I need a wool hat, mittens, and scarf. All kinds of camping gear…

A tea pot with a letter T on it would be cute. Get it? “T” pot? We use something somewhat like this when we go camping/at the cottage:

Pillows. Use Biome.
http://typophile.com/node/92450

hhp

I actually need pillow covers believe it or not. And a new bath towel, dish cloth…

A small pillow when camping is a real treat, but I do canoe camping, which means your kit can be significantly different from an ultralight hiking kit.

For example, we can bring a big cast-iron frying pan for cooking breakfast. Luxury. In canoe-camping land, the extent of your foot-travel is usually a short portage, so weight and bulk aren’t as much of a factor.

Not covers - that's boring. Pillows. Shaped like letters.

hhp

There are those u-shaped ones people take on planes I think? I never really knew what the genesis for those was. Something neck related, but I don’t see myself sleeping with one. What are they for anyway?

Letter pillows sounds like a good idea. However, it depends on the quality and stitching to make them look appealing, in my opinion. Personally, I don't care for really full stuffing (as shown above).

I prefer this sort of fill:

It would also be nice if people could create their own design and we could vote on them.

And they need colophons.

Chris, it's for keeping your head upright when you sleep in a chair. But put ends on it and you have a cool Omega.

hhp

Chris,

Are you sure that the pillow you showed is for necks and not for rear ends? I looks an awful lot like a hemorrhoid cushion to me…which, come to think of it, would be appropriate…

Close. Large ones of those are used for nestling babies.

hhp

Chris, the U-shaped pillows wrap around your neck so they are unlikely to shift or fall, which is useful when you're sleeping sitting up in a car or plane.

Hrant, I made one prototype pillow at sort of half-size, but I never got any produced. I'll send a pic if you want. The idea of making neck pillows that are really Biome c shapes is fun. But an e or s is no longer a neck pillow, for a human anyway.

I would also be interested in other ideas for typeface swag. I think we're all a little bored with tees, mugs, stress balls and the like. What gets people excited? Felt coasters? Scarves (like Veer used to do)? Anything more utilitarian like furniture? Kitchen stuff?

@crossgrove: Why not post the pillow photo for all to see? And I agree with anti-swag. Kitcher things are always useful. Keep price point in mind. I looked into hackets and found some up to $300 with leather sleeves and custom embroidery. Even if we could Kickstarter the initial run, we’d still have to buy them. I don’t think I can afford a $300 jacket right now, but I’ll keep looking.

A small stool would be handy. I agree with scarf and kitchen. A cookbook where we all pick our favourite recipe (that you are capable of preparing) and design the page? Might be an opportunity for members who are also type designers to allow others to use their fonts for this purpose.

Utilitarian, something we all need and use, food, hopefully a clever type correlation, capable of recieving custom treatment such as a silk-screen or embroidery, not landfill, not too expensive…

Can anyone else think or other pragmatics?

I find listing them to be helpful in idea generation (for me at least).

Fountain pen
Business card holder
Bookmark (nice and cheep)

(and of course after a month or so we'll have to make a decision and actually do it.)

Carl, I'd love to see a photo - post it here!

A "C" pillow (with a colophon about Biome) would be a great item for people traveling to/from a type conference... And an "E" for couples. :-) There's a reason that in Spanish the word for "spouse" is the same as "handcuffs". ;-)

hhp

What about chaps, anyone still wear those?

What about chaps, anyone still wear those?

Hey, thanks for reminding me ... Hrant you left your assless chaps under my bed.

n.

A gift for you next customer.

hhp

Haha.

On a serious note, what about totes? I'm always meaning to buy some but most are quite feminine.

Here is one I like

Click to see product page

There's also coasters

Click to see product page

I like what UGMONK has been doing as a brand.

I actually have a container fetish, but for some reason totes just don't do it for me. But messenger bags, OMG.

hhp

How about that custom cut carpet thing that Jessica made for her studio?
Maybe a little involved, I guess.

I wasn't really a fan of those carpets she made. Now messenger bags I can agree with.

Sticker packs!!

n.

Custom Swatch!!

n.

Belt buckle!!

n.

Custom sneeks!!

Vans:
http://www.vans.com/customculture/

Converse:
http://www.converse.com/#/products/shoes/converseOne/scratch/all

n.

Neon light!!

n.

A gift for you next customer.

hhp

THX!!

n.

A ball cap could be a good place to start. Not the most exciting choice, but inexpensive, one size fits all, and might appeal to a fairly wide group of people.

My “case” t-shirt is looking rather worse for wear now, I would like a replacement. The “body” t-shirt is still happy and I think the stickers are somewhere on a shelf.

It might be time for a type battle or at least a trawl through the archives.

Do we all need bags for our make up?

http://www.oliverbonas.com/homeware/homeware_favourites/beauty_fragrance...

Tim

@ALL: Does anyone know a Typophile who can knit?

All Typophiles can knit. But will they?

Aren't all chaps "assless"?

I don't have a 3rd koan for you today. Just a photo.

Aren't all chaps "assless"?

Except for the ones that chap your ass, I suppose so…

I can sew but I can't knit (there's a difference).

> Kickstarter could easily help produce an initial run

But isn't Kickstarter mainly a way to make a financial appeal to a wide group of people? I don't know why anyone outside of Typophile regulars would want Typophile-branded merchandise.

That's why stuff with something like this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48413419@N00/6289279499
would be better.

hhp

@ALL: Does anyone know a Typophile who can knit?

If you want to outsource ... Nepal has some awesome knitting co-ops which make high quality sweaters (and other knitted goods) knitted to your specific design requirements. I don't know if they would do one offs or not.

n.

What about a coffee mug? And not just any ordinary coffee mug either, what about a coffee mug that has miraculous powers?

n.

What about a coffee mug?

Unless the coffee mug had an ampersand handle, there's enough of them floating around. Don't you think?

What are the chances of getting a tea mug that's a "T"?

hhp

What are the chances of getting a tea mug that's a "T"?

You mean the whole thing or just the handle?

Ampersand handle would be neato, but no I don't there's enough of them floating around.

Especially one that would have letter's fill in when the temp of the mug changed or one that went from fill to outline as the coffee level lowered.

But none of the above is what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a Typophile coffee mug with such miraculous powers that it could cure bad kerning all by itself!

As the legend of the Typophile coffee mug grew I'm sure lots of reports would come in from all around the globe ...perhaps even seen on ISS!

n.

A compiled list to date:

Letter sweater
Varsity jacket
Paper weight
Apron
Flag
Jean jacket patch
Hat
Mittens
Scarf
Camping kit
“T” pot
Letter-shaped pillows
T-shirt
Mug
Furniture
Kitchen tools
Stool
Cookbook
Fountain pen
Business card holder
Bookmark
Chaps (with assless option)
Tote
Coasters
Messanger bag
Carpet
Stickers
Swatch
Belt buckle
Sneakers
Lighting
Ball cap
T shirt
Mug (with ampersand handle & magical powers option)
“T” cup

Keep going.

What are the chances of getting a tea mug that's a "T"?

http://www.21stcentury.co.uk/gadgets/alternative-gifts/time-for-t-mug.asp

Nice!

hhp

You could also have print on demand Typophile merchandise. Somebody here must have dabbled with 3D software.

http://www.shapeways.com/

There is a chess set that could really do with some competition. But this is quite nice

http://www.shapeways.com/model/59869/letter-g.html?li=productBox-search

As for cups, they gottem

http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=cup

I think the hidden heart cup could work with type forms.

I used Shapeways for Christmas shopping this year, had to order well in advance but was very pleased with the items I bought.

Tim

How about 3D Play-Doh type?

Sweet

Skins of all kinds!!

n.

Knuckle rings!!

n.

Typophile font identifier app!!

n.

Typophile-edition Ferrari

Great find, timd

Typophile iPhone/iPad case.

@All: What are the most common drawing tools when people draw letters by hand. The hand sketching process of font creation, prior to digitization? Include paper.

Pads
Pencils
Custom Moleskin

What are the most common drawing tools when people draw letters by hand. The hand sketching process of font creation, prior to digitization? Include paper.

Ruling pens and compasses, and French curves (oo-la-la)…

Custom French curves could be nice as art objects.

Fish tank or fish tank accessories!!

n.

Pet toys / accessories!!

n.

fonts?

Yeah, just kidding.