It’s not an actual shop we’re popping to this week but a workshop in the Chocolate Factory which makes wonderful signage – award winning Goodwin & Goodwin. My father trained as a commercial artist and in those days all lettering had to be hand drawn each time you wanted to make a bespoke sign or label. We have a beautiful label he drew for the Dettol brand. Then Letraset arrived, you may remember the printed sheets of type which you could gently transfer onto paper – it certainly gave a professional look to some of my school projects.
So a good looking sign or typeface holds my interest and I can quite see how there is not only a commercial side to their business with household names such as Ugg and the BBC amongst their clients but also interest from the general public for decorative items. Owners Paul and Viviane love typography and vintage illuminated signs and are mad about the ampersand which populates their home and the workshop like a tribal fetish. This illuminated one could make a great lamp and costs around £265.00.
There are lots of other items on their website ranging from letter holders to this Black Cinema Sign with a set of moveable letters for £74.95 and a list of stockists.
If you would like to talk about commissioning something for your home or as a gift then you can visit them – just ring first to tell them you’re coming. An illuminated initial, or a meaningful word, or perhaps a numeral in lights could make the perfect, modern, quirky gift for a special occasion. And I’d love to take a peek at their workshop!
Goodwin & Goodwin, Unit A007, The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road, N22 6XJ Sales: 0208 829 0599 Office Hours 9am-6pm Monday to Friday.
http://www.goodwinandgoodwin.com/
