Creator: Tré Seals
Agency: Vocal Type
Client: Chronicle Books, Spike Lee
Spike Lee is a world-renowned, Academy Award–winning filmmaker, a cultural icon, and one of the most prominent voices on race and racism for more than three decades. His prolific career has included over 35 films, including his directorial debut She’s Gotta Have It (1986), his seminal masterpiece Do the Right Thing (1989), and more recently, his Oscar-winning film BlacKkKlansman (2018). Spike Lee’s provocative feature films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos have spotlighted powerful stories and made an indelible mark in cinematic history and contemporary society. This career-spanning monograph titled SPIKE is a visual celebration of his life and career. Tré Seals, founder of the diversity-driven font foundry Vocal Type, designed this monograph and crafted the five bespoke typefaces within its pages. Different aspects of Spike’s life and career inspire each typeface: from the “LOVE” and “HATE” rings worn by Radio Raheem in Do The Right Thing to the “MARS” chain from She’s Gotta Have it, as well as over a dozen film posters and Knicks jerseys. Featuring a fuchsia cover (his mom’s favorite color), the all-black pages are designed to make readers feel like they are viewing Spike’s life and career from their seats in the theater.
Additional Credits
David Lee, Photography
Steve Crist, Editing
Steve Crist and Gloria, Art Direction
Tré Seals, Design
Vocal Type c/o Tré Seals, Typography