Keep Gill Sans and Carry On

If you ever visit Singapore and look for something to do other than shopping at Orchard Road, I highly recommend going to Dempsey Hill. There are several quaint restaurants and one of my favorite spot is Jones, a specialized grocery shop with a cafe in the middle.

My very first attraction to this place was their use of Gill Sans typeface for their whole branding. It is so simple and straightforward that it almost clears my mind to focus on their story: quality food.

Gill Sans reminded me of London, their underground, their war propaganda, their Penguin Classic Collections and my first boss – Clive Piercy. Clive is a genius English designer in Los Angeles who at the start of my typography journey would only allow me to work with a few sets of typefaces: Gill Sans, Interstate, and Mrs. Eaves. His only instruction was, “Make the types simple, and make them sing! Forget about doing your calligraphy.” Until this day, I remain to be his loyal fan.

If you have a moment to spare, please check out this short film describing the history of “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

The English are bloody good in creating a timeless message.

Kisses, Melissa Sunjaya