Do not be fooled by the name of the site. Of course we seek out Awful Type, but at the same time we are looking for inspiration. No one likes a “Debbie Downer,” so here are a few inspiring designs that we came across today.

James Benavides

Awful Type

Inspiration in the Oddest of Places

As a seeker of type I have scoured the web looking for inspiration. The odd thing about coming across awful type, is that it seems to somehow inspire me. When I look at something so awful, I think to myself, what would I have done different? The people at Stop-N-Shop had me asking that same question today.

James Benavides

Awful Type

Looking for Inspiration

This sign was located on the corner of a high volume intersection in Austin, Texas. To me, this is another case of a do-it-yourself owner trying to save a buck by not hiring a designer. Rather than seek help from someone familiar with design, they chose to try their own hand at it. Good design is usually unnoticeable, unless it is really good or if it is really bad. Every time I see awful type I wonder to myself, how could I have improved it? It is part of my own inspiration to try harder.

James Benavides

Awful Type

The Awful Type Project

The internet and the world around me is filled with creative designs. My name is James Benavides and I live in Austin, Texas. As a graphic designer, I look for inspiration and ways to improve my skills on a daily basis. I am fortunate to be living in Austin, because the city is filled with talented designers. I have, like many other designers, scoured the internet for inspiration. One day while I was driving I noticed this awkward signage that had a severe stroke that engulfed most of the back of its logo. As I stared at this God Awful Type, I started to ask myself: What would I have done different? Other than remove that hideous stroke, ideas of changing the logo, wordlists, and random thoughts of re-creating a new logo started popping in my head. All this while driving in my car. That was the birth of the Awful Type Project. I claim no superiority in typography or design, but I am a student of design. I will be a student for the rest of my life, because I plan on learning more and more for as long as I can. I have dabbled in oil paints, photography, and I still go to Meetups to learn more about Bootstrap, WordPress, or just about anything else available during my free time. This project has raised my awareness about typography and design. I plan, if time allows it, to revisit these designs and do a 10-minute recreation of their designs. This is to show the DIY owners what could be done if they hired a designer, instead of saving money and creating it themselves.

Thanks for visiting my site. If you have your own Awful Type images I would love to share them on my site.

James Benavides

Awful Type