Typeface designs named for North Campus thoroughfares

Bonisteel serif

Murfin sans

Two of Dennis Miller’s most recent typeface designs are named for the streets nearest the School of Art and Design on North Campus—Murfin and Bonisteel. A third is named Fuller, the street bordering the south side of the Art and Architecture Building.

Miller, an assistant professor of art, says the three designs will be used in the School’s new admissions brochure.

He says he always has been intrigued by letters. Any new bit of information—sign, billboard or flea market item—attracted him first with letters.

Miller initially creates his works with brush and/or pen, then turns them into digital form with software. One of his recent projects involved creating a Hebrew typeface for the Michigan Jewish Online Education Project, work engendered by the U-M’s Academic Outreach Program.

With research focusing on calligraphic forms, Miller continues to explore the letter as form.