On the surface comparing the work of M/M Paris to the work of H&F-J is naturally a challenge as they are both a world away from one another. On the one hand M/M Paris apply themselves to a huge chunk of the design industry, covering so many aspects, whereas H&F-J apply themselves specifically to typographic design in their type foundry in New York City.
However, typography is something that they both contribute to greatly (even if their execution of type design differs considerably).M/M apply type design into illustration, music, photography, and fashion, they apply the use of typography into the actual nature of the themes from which they are working, they make type to suit what their given brief may be, kind of like killing two birds with one stone, incorporating a passion for creating exiting typefaces with a passion for illustration, photography etc. The illustrations act as a host for creating innovative type designs. The type doesn’t simply sit within the designs but is actually part of the design – It makes the design possible. The type design itself is mainly of an illustrative or photographic nature. Their work often mixes photography, intricate illustration and hand drawn typefaces. Now considering the fact that the typefaces they produce are in fact readable, these typefaces would never be used at a commercial level, for example in a text document, (like the one your reading now), it could be said that any traditional rules of type design have been ditched, although this is not an issue, as their field of design doesn’t require neat structured typefaces, that can be left for the guys at H&F-J. M/M produce fun and exiting solutions to type design that are expressed through experimental mediums.
Above - a piece of typographic work from M/M this piece has a mainly illustrative aesthetic in place.
Above - The Alphabet (an a - z of beauty) this design has aspects of illustration and photography working together rather well. The letterforms have been created through photographing models and cutting away various aspects of the image to establish the raw shapes of the letterforms.
Above - the Alpha Men, this has also been fashioned in the same manor, however the style has a heavier, more dominant feel, when compared to the female version which is somewhat lighter and has more of a feminine flow.
Above - several examples of Alpha Men letters.
