Nolan Paparelli’s Everett specimen unites his sans serif with the work of its namesake photographer

Combining the typographic explorations of Everett, a sans serif from Munich-based designer Nolan Paparelli, with the striking images of its namesake photographer, Forever Everett is a typeface specimen that champions creative context. Constructed of six hybrid double-sided posters split between the work of Daniel Everett and Paparelli’s own creation, the large-scale publication allows the typeface to truly express its macro and micro detailing whilst complimenting the investigatory, equally intricate imagery.

“Everett has its roots in Everett,” Paparelli tells us, having already designed two prior specimens whilst at ECAL, neither of which featured the work of its inspiration. “It made total sense to have this direct relationship between Everett’s pictures and the Everett typeface,” Paparelli explains, “who also features cuts and has a somewhat architectural construction,” noting how effortlessly the typeface is incorporated with the architectural projects featured. 

“I’ve made a selection of six different pictures from Everett, some older and some newer,” he recalls, discussing the specimen’s design, taking five quotes from Everett during interviews and visually addressing them typographically – whilst also providing himself with the space to flaunt the exhaustive nature and intricacy of the typeface. “I wanted to start with photography so that in the middle we have a pure type spread,” he explains. “The hard part was that half of the posters are actually hidden because of the double foldings,” Paparelli adds, recalling the pragmatic considerations between the product’s design and its artistic expression. “I wanted to feature pictures that are not too repetitive and make interesting details while folded,” he concludes, having found the balance between the practical and cost-effective size for the publication’s distribution without disrupting the powerful typographic vigour and rigour caught within its pages.

Nolan Paparelli

Forever Everett