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The Ohno Book: A Serious Guide to Irreverent Type Design
From the cult favorite typography studio and foundry OH no Type Co. comes this richly illustrated and endlessly entertaining handbook featuring type specimens, process sketches, and instructions for creating typefaces.
The purpose of this book is to make type design fun. As author and OH no founder James Edmondson explains about type, “For me, it’s been a refuge, an infinite playground where I’m constantly excited to explore something new. It’s a place where I can exercise my need for control in a productive way.”
OH no Type Co.'s wildly imaginative fonts—including Beastly, Casserole, Hobeaux, Ohno Fatface, Polymath, Regrets, and Vulf—lend an exuberant, psychedelic flair to packaging, editorial design, gig posters, and apparel, earning the company cult-like status in the graphic design community. Edmondson shares his knowledge and passion for type design with his signature humor, candor, and warmth beloved by his many students and followers.
Along with a visual feast of fonts and signage and type ephemera, the book includes guidance and practical information for graphic designers and typographers,
Expert advice on designing type fonts
How to balance practical concerns with creativity
Why OH no names fonts after an obscure funk band and a French school of decorative arts
What it takes to earn a living as a type designer
And much more
As engaging to read as it is to look at, this spirited go-to handbook is a must for all graphic and type designers looking for inspiration and instruction from a leader in the field.
TYPE DESIGN Founder James Edmondson is a sought-after instructor at California College of the Arts, Letterform Archive, and Cooper Union. He hosts the popular podcast OHNO Radio and writes the OH no Type School blog series.
INSPIRATION AND The Ohno Book is both a treasury of type design and a practical guide to the craft. It features instruction and process notes for students of typography who want to hone or expand their design skills.
HIGHLY DESIGNED ART Taking a cue from OH no’s brilliantly creative fonts, The Ohno Book features a richly designed, attention-grabbing cover and over 175 black-and-white illustrations throughout, perfect for cutting-edge graphic and type designers to display on a bookshelf or coffee table.
Perfect
Graphic design and type design students and professionals
Typography enthusiasts
Collectors of lettering art design books
Graduation and teacher gifts
The purpose of this book is to make type design fun. As author and OH no founder James Edmondson explains about type, “For me, it’s been a refuge, an infinite playground where I’m constantly excited to explore something new. It’s a place where I can exercise my need for control in a productive way.”
OH no Type Co.'s wildly imaginative fonts—including Beastly, Casserole, Hobeaux, Ohno Fatface, Polymath, Regrets, and Vulf—lend an exuberant, psychedelic flair to packaging, editorial design, gig posters, and apparel, earning the company cult-like status in the graphic design community. Edmondson shares his knowledge and passion for type design with his signature humor, candor, and warmth beloved by his many students and followers.
Along with a visual feast of fonts and signage and type ephemera, the book includes guidance and practical information for graphic designers and typographers,
Expert advice on designing type fonts
How to balance practical concerns with creativity
Why OH no names fonts after an obscure funk band and a French school of decorative arts
What it takes to earn a living as a type designer
And much more
As engaging to read as it is to look at, this spirited go-to handbook is a must for all graphic and type designers looking for inspiration and instruction from a leader in the field.
TYPE DESIGN Founder James Edmondson is a sought-after instructor at California College of the Arts, Letterform Archive, and Cooper Union. He hosts the popular podcast OHNO Radio and writes the OH no Type School blog series.
INSPIRATION AND The Ohno Book is both a treasury of type design and a practical guide to the craft. It features instruction and process notes for students of typography who want to hone or expand their design skills.
HIGHLY DESIGNED ART Taking a cue from OH no’s brilliantly creative fonts, The Ohno Book features a richly designed, attention-grabbing cover and over 175 black-and-white illustrations throughout, perfect for cutting-edge graphic and type designers to display on a bookshelf or coffee table.
Perfect
Graphic design and type design students and professionals
Typography enthusiasts
Collectors of lettering art design books
Graduation and teacher gifts
256 pages, Hardcover
Published October 14, 2025
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 14, 2025
Specifically about Edmonson’s career, and a granular look at the creative process of some of his typefaces. Good for intermediate designers to compare and contrast. Not good for beginners just starting out - with the exception of the last few pages, which outline basic tips and analyze common errors of type design.
October 8, 2025
Refreshing, honest, humble, wildly creative and fun….just like the guy that wrote and designed everything in it! I love how it’s written and reads like he’s actually there teaching you. Like Aaron Draplin’s monograph, his passion & personality is all over it. Easily my favorite type design book of 2025!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews