A curated selection of work by Ian Edmondson spanning twenty five years of working within the field of visual communication.

  • Violator

    Second Pantune

    The Pantune series is a tribute to some of our favourite music and the artists behind it. Over the years, these long players have inspired us and influenced our designs through the moods they evoke and the atmospheres they create. With this series, we want to show our appreciation to the creators whose work continues to leave a lasting impression. For the second installment, we’ve chosen Violator by Depeche Mode, originally released in 1990. Original sleeve design by Anton Corbijn and Area.

  • Tessellée Marocaine

    The Tessellée Marocaine series was inspired by a 2017 trip to Marrakech, compromising a total of eight works. This example is ‘Souk Verde, Kinky Ebony, Atlantic Horizon & Gueliz Nuit’.

  • Eastern Bloc versus Punto Aparte

    A poster for Eastern Bloc showcasing the creation of the logotype's colour palette, featuring the Spectral typeface designed by Ian Edmondson in 2009.

  • New Order

    Neue Ordnung Typeface

    A typeface first drawn in 2007 and inspired by the legendary Manchester band, New Order. Soon available to purchase here.

  • Stegano – Pussycat

    Pussycat is the second instalment in a two-part series exploring steganography—the concealment of information in plain sight. Each work functions as both image and vessel, combining graphic clarity with hidden structures and encoded arrangements. The series plays on the tension between what is seen and what is concealed, prompting viewers to reflect on how meaning can be embedded within the everyday. Conceived as a diptych, the two parts exist in dialogue, mirroring and contesting one another to suggest shifting modes of secrecy, revelation, and perception.

  • Stegano Print

    Stegano – Cockerel

    The Stegano Prints are a two-part series exploring the practice of steganography: the concealment of information in plain sight. Each work functions both as an image and as a vessel, pairing graphic clarity with hidden structures and encoded arrangements. The series plays on the tension between what is immediately visible and what remains unseen, asking viewers to consider how meaning can be disguised within the everyday. Created as a diptych, the two pieces act in dialogue—mirroring and challenging one another to suggest different modes of secrecy, revelation, and perception.

  • Pop! Typeface

    Nev Cottee

    Pop! A typeface created in 2024 for the new album release by Nev Cottee, the Manchester-based singer-songwriter.

  • Fourth Pantune

    The Pantune series is a tribute to some of our favourite music and the artists behind the recordings. Over the years, these long players have inspired us and influenced our designs through their impact on our moods. We want to express our gratitude to the creators for their enduring influence. This is Technique by New Order after the original sleeve by Peter Saville and Trevor Key in 1989.

  • Neue Ordnung Type Specimen

    Eastern Bloc Abstract Logotype

    Abstract logotype created in 2019 for the Manchester Music landmark, Eastern Bloc.

  • Selected Ambient Works

    Third Pantune

    This piece is a visual tribute to Selected Ambient Works 85-92 by Aphex Twin, using tiny Pantone swatches to reflect the album's original sleeve which displays the Aphex Twin symbol, which was designed by Paul Nicholson. The Pantune series honours the music that has inspired us over the years, capturing the moods and emotions shaped by these influential records. For our third installment, we’ve chosen Aphex Twin’s 1992 release, a defining work in electronic music.

  • Kinky Pops

    Created in 2018 the series of thirty pieces named 'Kinky Pops' are striking pieces that encapsulate the essence of pop art while provocatively flirting with themes of sexuality. The artworks employ full colour printing techniques, enhanced by an additional neon fifth colour that adds vibrancy and depth to the visual experience. The choice of neon not only makes the piece visually arresting but also imbues it with an energetic and modern feel. This example is '4B444852444B'.

  • Castlefield Colour Studies

    Crossley Engine

    From a series named ‘Castlefield Colour Studies’ produced in October, 2015. This is the first of six pieces. A six-colour work including a metallic Pantone.

  • Guernica

    Guernica

    A piece from the Reductions series, this example is Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica. The original can be found at Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain.

  • Ian’s Typographic Journey: Ian first began crafting letterforms as a teenager in the late 1980s. At the time, these weren’t full alphabets but a handful of characters—often just enough to create a logotype or symbol. It wasn’t until his degree studies that he took on the challenge of designing a complete alphabet. The result was Lovebytes, created in 1992 on a Macintosh LC 475—nicknamed “The Pizza Box”—using Aldus PageMaker. Although he developed a full lowercase set, Lovebytes was never turned into an installable digital typeface. Much of Ian’s early experimentation was inspired by the work of Dutch designer Wim Crouwel, whose bold, system-driven approach left a lasting impression. Only recently has Ian revisited those early designs, with plans to release some as fully functional typefaces available for purchase in the near future.

    In recent years, Ian has pushed further into unconventional and exploratory territory. Many of his new typefaces depart from traditional letterform structures. Some are based on systems such as coded colour or letter frequency; others verge on the abstract, barely hinting at recognisable characters. For Ian, this kind of experimentation is both rewarding and exhilarating. He admits to having once tried reinterpreting classics like Helvetica and Bodoni, but quickly lost interest. In his view, these typefaces are already complete—if not technically perfect, then perfect in spirit. Their imperfections, he believes, are part of their charm.

    Over time, Ian’s relationship to type has evolved. As a young design student, he and his peers would collect thousands of fonts on CDs, convinced that more was better. Today, his library holds fewer than a hundred—plus those he’s created himself for specific projects or ideas. “If I’m lucky enough to live long enough,” Ian jokes, “I might even get that number down to a dozen.”

    Typefaces include:
    Lovebytes (1992)
    International (1993) ) (Now Available)
    Stasis Mono (1995) ) (Now Available)
    Pheno (2001) (Now Available)
    Northern Quarter (2002) (Now Available) (Fonts In Use)
    Colmado (2003) (Fonts In Use)
    Monoform (2005) (Fonts In Use)
    Zona (2005)
    Punto (2006) (Fonts In Use)
    Neue Ordnung (2007) (Fonts In Use)
    Spectral (2009)
    Fone-M (2018)
    Pop! (2024) (Fonts In Use)

  • Commercial: Punto Aparte Studio works with clients to improve visual communication across branding, signage, type design, and printed materials such as brochures and posters. The studio has experience with a wide range of organisations, from small businesses to large, established companies, and has consulted on both regional and national events. Ian takes a practical, thoughtful approach to each project, with the aim of delivering well-executed, appropriate outcomes. If you're looking for design support with a clear focus on craft and function, get in touch to see how the studio can help.

    Education: Ian regularly runs workshops with students, offering direct feedback and guidance on their work. These sessions are designed to create space for open conversation and hands-on learning, shaped by real-world experience. He can also develop set projects for students, helping them engage with the full process of design—idea development, problem-solving, and execution. His workshops are typically booked on a day-rate basis. Ian encourages students to start with pen and paper before turning to digital tools. He believes that understanding print is still essential to graphic design, and often arranges visits to working lithographic presses. These trips offer a close look at techniques such as foil blocking, spot colours, and UV finishes—methods that, while sometimes overlooked, remain important to producing well-considered printed work.

    Private: Punto Aparte Studio also takes on private commissions. These projects can be developed in close collaboration with the client—whether that means working to a detailed brief or developing a one-off, tailored outcome from scratch.

  • Vintage Youth, in collaboration with Eastern Bloc, is launching a seven-tape series—each a different colour of the rainbow and strictly limited. Eastern Promise by Nev Cottee (Red) and Crossed Wires by Thought Universe (Orange) are available now, with upcoming releases from What Kind Of Sound? (Yellow) and JS Zeiter (Green). Don’t miss out—these tapes are limited to just 25 copies each.