I recently took a trip to Blackpool to savour the last moments of summer (because who doesn't love being surrounded by sun, sea, and stag dos?) and was pleasantly surprised. When visiting the famous Tower, who would believe there was, what can only be described as typography heaven, right outside its doors.
Created by Gordon Young, The Comedy Carpet as it's more formally known, is a celebration of comedy, referring to the work of more than 1,000 comedians and comedy writers. It contains over 160,000 granite letters, and has become a stage for entertainment itself. I walked across this without looking down, and it was only when I was inside and on the second level of the Tower, looking out of the window, that I realised the impact and beauty of this work of art.
What struck me first was the sheer size of this piece, and I immediately made my boyfriend come with me to see it up close. It was then that I released it could be read in so many different ways, with each sketch or line in a different direction to the one next to it. Not to mention the typography: each sketch being written differently: small fonts, big fonts, bold fonts, sans serif, embellished, colourful, some drafted similar to a newspaper design, and others messily strewn across the floor. It’s interactive, and really requires you to think: and for a designer, creating a connection is the main goal and this artist has truly captured that.
Its an over the top, in your face homage to some of our greatest and, I must admit, I couldn't see this anywhere other than Blackpool. I will definitely be referring back to this anytime I need some typographic inspiration this next year.
You can find out and read more here.
