Hello, my name is Nicholas Wallis, I am a graphic designer from Auckland, New Zealand. My passion is creating custom, hand drawn typography, and incorporating it within works of design. I am in love with the 26 letters of the alphabet, and the infinite range of emotions one can create by twisting, stretching and skewing them in different ways.

I am driven by the idea that traditional typography is like a well-tailored suit: reliable, appropriate for many occasions, and always presentable. But custom, hand-drawn typography is like a bespoke outfit designed by an artist: it may not fit every context, but when it does, it turns heads and leaves a lasting impression. While the suit is perfect for a formal event, the bespoke outfit is what you choose to make a statement and connect on a deeper emotional level.

My goal is to make the context within which my typography fits as broad as possible.

I like to use elements from the real world as often as I can in my work, I take pictures of just about anything I see which could be used in a design, whether that be a cloud, a leaf, a section of pavement with a cool texture, or a sticker on a street sign, I believe that using as many real life elements as possible within my work makes it feel more authentic, more tangible. I also like the idea that perhaps doing this gives my work a sort of geographic identity, based on where I was at the time.

My vision is to be able to create the perfect synergy of custom type, and authentic imagery, leading to truly unique work which does not compromise its clarity or comprehensibility in the process.