With over fifty years of experience in the design and advertising industry (put on hold by a two year stint as a National Serviceman in the Australian Army) as a creative director, art director, designer, part illustrator and a letterer on a variety of well known brands in both packaging and corporate graphics, I am now specialising in Lettering and Brandmark Design in its many forms. Awards have been from packaging, typography and outdoor. From the days of drawing up lettering and typefaces, inking in the finished work with Winsor & Newton’s brushes...to the digital times of today, one thing still remains...the ability to understand and draw letters properly is never more prominent. The computer allows me to render the letterforms in a different way but the initial procedure is still the same.

I would like to thank Bruce Bennetts (Aus), Doyald Young (Late), Mortimer Leach, Tom Carnase, Herb Lubalin, Tony DiSpigna, Saul Bass, Maurice Schlesinger (Aus), Graham Wade (Aus), Eric Roberts (Aus), Phyllis Brown (Aus) and Tommy Thompson for the knowledge and skills that they have imparted through their work, books, teachings and work associations that live with me always. Also, a special thanks to my first primary school teacher Miss Dennis at Clovelly Public School, Sydney, who taught and inspired me how to write through her wonderful blackboard examples that began a love of lettering, design and typography. How fantastic to come into the classroom and see the blackboard adorned with horizontal and sloped chalk lines with beautifully drawn Caps and lower case letters in the Roundhand English Copperplate style. A wonderful teacher! I might also mention I love drawing and was totally inspired by Australian illustrators, Keith Howland, Noel Stapleton, Patrick Russell, Wes Walters, Graham Wade, Harry Rogers and Maurice Schlesinger in the fields of fashion, general work and posters for Qantas Airways. Morris Toohey was a great influence as well.

May I also pay tribute to the late Doyald Young. I first saw Doyald’s work in the first two lettering books that I ever bought, back in 1961/62. Both were by Mortimer Leach who was Doyald’s mentor in his teaching days. Doyald also wrote three wonderful books that were a joy to read and admire. His craftsmanship and knowledge of lettering and typography was incredible and I am forever grateful for the legacy that he has left. I also became a friend, which from my humble place in this industry I found to be a great experience. Doyald was a true legend and a lovely person. I learnt so much from him and his books.

It was fantastic to be featured as a part of Like Minded Studio’s ‘A Type of Show’ held in Sydney in August, 2011. I met Tony DiSpigna (pictured above) who of course has been a great influence in my typographic design and lettering work, it was a very memorable and enjoyable experience. Talking and learning from Tony was immeasurable, you can’t really believe it at the time. Thanks must go to Luca Lonescu of Like Minded Studio and A Kind of Gallery for the whole event.

The following portfolio exhibits an extensive variety of work executed for Design and Advertising agencies both here across all cities in Australia, Auckland, Vietnam, Zurich, London, Hong Kong and New York.  Some ‘concept’ work can’t be shown here for confidentiality reasons. I am very proud and aware of the Australian lettering artists and illustrators that have preceded me. Whilst we are a young country we have had many fine practioners in these disciplines. I only wish they had been recorded more widely for current and future generations. Luckily I have collected Australian design annuals, books and magazines featuring their work. Two ACIAA annuals from the early sixties are priceless!

Please note that all work appearing on this website is for display and reference purposes only.

Keith Morris. Proudly Australian.