TEXTURED TYPE | SPAIN

Traversing through Spain with my little sister was one of the best experiences I've ever had. She got to leave the US for the first time, and we both got to explore a new place together.

Spain had always been on my bucket list. Everything that I had heard about the culture and the people had me so excited to go. There is so much history here, and the art and design aesthetic is very influenced by its past. There is something beautiful everywhere you look. Everything is embellished, colorful, and covered with intricate detail.

One of the main things I noticed about the typography here was its expressiveness and texture. I once had a teacher compare the creation of typography to painting or drawing -- it's simply creating strokes and lines. The type I saw in Spain reminded me of this. It wasn't simply functional, it was also beautiful.

My design aesthetic tends to be on the minimal side. I would say experiencing Spain definitely influenced me to embrace tasteful detail and intricacies as something that makes a piece unique, rather than distracting.

Barcelona | La Sagrada Familia

Bronze cast door, Josep Maria Subirachs

La Sagrada Familia is one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen. It's covered in intricate details and symbolism; I'm so glad we splurged on the guided tour! Josep Maria Subirachs is the sculptor who created the Passion facade of the building. He had an interest in using typography alongside architecture.

The image below is taken from this article and taken by Jordi Estruch y Massana. It is a photo of him working on a plaster model that would later be cast in bronze. I'm so glad this process was documented!

Barcelona | Sant Jordi Sagrada Familia Hostel

Vinyl type

My sister is going to kill me for posting this pic, but I had to. Our hostel in Barcelona was awesome. It markets itself to skaters and street artists, and as a result has some bold interior decorating strategies. Besides the indoor skate ramp and graffiti covered patio, it also has loud typography and colors on each floor.

The different quotes and sayings set the tone for the hostel. When you go to leave each day, you're newly inspired and excited about the adventures to come.

Malaga | Roman Theater Visitor Center

Wood building facade, Antonio Tejedor

Malaga was completely beautiful. It's historic center was filled with a mixture of Roman and Moorish influences. There is a partially preserved Roman Theater in the city, and this is part of the visitor center exterior. The building is completely beautiful and houses information and archaeological discoveries found on the site. This text (I think) is Latin and is titled "Lex Flavia Malacitana. It is the legal declarations of Malaga under the Roman Empire.

Malaga | Malagueta Beach

Sand Sculpture

There's not a lot of information online about this sculpture on Malagueta Beach, but it was very worth seeing. It's a huge beach where lots of locals and tourists go as its conveniently located near the city center. According to a local we met, it's the worst beach in Malaga. I thought it was pretty nice, so I can only imagine that the other ones are incredible.

Seville | Plaza de Espana

Tiled alcove, Anibal Gonzalex

The entire plaza was designed by Anibal Gonzalez, and each of these alcoves represents a different province of Spain. The entire plaza is covered in designs and patterns. I was so inspired by this space, I think we spent about 2 hours walking around and soaking it all in.

Cadiz | El Pelicano MusiCafe

Hand drawn illustration

Not really typography, but I really like the idea of it. This bar along the beach hosts a free flamenco show. It was intimate and one of the highlights of my trip. This wall is upstairs near the bathroom, and while I didn't see any drawing utensils nearby, I hope that these were actually made by bar visitors. I'll have to go back in a few years and see how the wall has progressed.

#Spain #Travel #Typography #Design #Inspiration