Neil Summerour is an award-winning type designer and lettering artist who opened his own studio soon after graduating from The University of Georgia. This evolved into a 10-year dance in the design, web, and advertising world. In 2009, Neil formalized his type foundry and lettering studio, Positype, and has published over 80 typeface families and produced numerous custom typefaces for clients worldwide that include Victoria’s Secret, id Software, L’Oreal and Panera. Neil has continued his commitment to education and fostering young talent as an adjunct professor in Graphic Design at The University of Georgia and also at the Governor’s School for the Arts. Neil lectures both internationally and domestically on type design, lettering and electronic lettering principles and best practices. He is a member of the Type Directors Club and is a Board Member of the Society of Typographic Aficionados.
food
Rice. Eel. Sea Urchin. Fatty tuna... is this beginning to read like a Sushi Menu? Pork. Marrow. Sweet breads.
book
/Counterpunch/ by Fred Smeijers is always a warm, fuzzy read. Haruki Murakami's /1Q84/ is stunning, Anthony Bourdain's /Medium Raw/, /Washington: A Life/ by Ron Chernow, and currently pouring through the new /Lubalin/.
drink
Aloe Vera Juice, Macchiato, 21-yr old Balvenie, 18-yr old Glen Morangie Quinta Ruban... in no specific order
film/tv
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, any B&W B-monster movie, any documentary on the Science or History Channels, Ghost Hunters (yep, don't laugh), NHK World
travel
Japan. It feels like home.
collection
Old type and lettering specimens, lettering manuals from the 1700 & 1800's, and Transformers and Gundams form the 1980s (how can you not love big robots?!)
invention
I'm with Tiffany, where's my personal transporter!?!?
plant
Bamboo
sound
Anything but country. Anything that lets me dissolve into my kerning or lettering at any given moment.
blog
I don't read many. I do have a soft spot for Fonts In Use.
animal
When prepared correctly, I will eat them.
expert
That's sticky. I do not feel that artisans, craftspeople, or creatives should call themselves an 'expert' in anything... we should be constantly learning and allowing our approaches to evolve. I am adept in fusing analog and digital lettering techniques and M&M color organization for consumption.
when not at type camp
I'm always working on typefaces and lettering. More importantly, I endeavor to learn all of the names of My Little Pony to impress my 3-yr old.