The typeface was based upon the well-known Din-font variant, Alternate Black. Riccardo scanned loads of mechanical technical drawings to create each letter and number. Check out his Transformer Decepticon icon, too. Cudos to Riccardo─please head over to his Behance profile to more of his talents─and the rest of this set.

Mechanical Font “Mekkanika” Sample Gallery

Mekkanika is a typeface inspired by old mechanics technical drawings, the steampunk visual world, and modern machinery, mixed and merged all together to form letters completely made by these elements, creating a mechanical look like typeface.

Credits: All images are copyright © Riccardo Sabatini. Please check out his Behance profile for more work / Via Thisiscolossal.com

★★★★★ If you liked this, you’ll love the style of these Mercedes Benz: Left Brain/Right Brain Ads.

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

1. X-Box Red Ring of Death

What is really means → All vehicles prohibited except pedal cycles being pushed by pedestrians

2. When you’re Jivin’ on your horse & cart in England, be careful

What is really means → Horse drawn vehicles likely to be in road ahead

3 …but Jivin’ is prohibited on the return trip

What is really means → Horse drawn vehicles prohibited

4. “I Pity the Fool!”

What is really means → No through road for vehicular traffic

5. Visit the mother-in-law

What is really means → Tourist symbol for Wales only: Tourist attraction recognised by the Welsh Tourist Board

6. All bikes and vehicles stay in one corner

What is really means → With-flow bus lane which pedal cycles and taxis may also use ahead

7. Punch the bag and see what’s inside

What is really means → Lane control signal indicating that vehicles may not proceed along the lane directly beneath the signal

8. Giant moles may pop up under your vehicle at any time

What is really means → Risk of grounding at a railway or tramway level crossing or hump backed bridge

9. Drive over the tunnel ahead, yes, all three lanes

What is really means → Sharp bends ahead where traffic is diverted onto a temporary road for a short distance

10. No level or horizontal parking, or else

What is really means → Vehicles may be parked partially on the verge or footway in marked bays

11. Danger of giant umbrellas ahead

What is really means → Road works or temporary obstruction of the carriageway ahead

12. Giant yellow house in field

What is really means → Direction along a footpath indicated by waymarks

13. Attention! Sign makers stating the obvious

What is really means → Vehicles carrying explosives

14. Giant numbered-boxes floating in nearby lake

What is really means → The number of a route for pedal cycles forming part of a national cycle route network

15. Hazardous for Focus, Fiesta and Mondeo drivers

What is really means → Ford warning sign

16. No clever stunts please

What is really means → Motor vehicles prohibited

17. Divert to quirky-named premises before rejoining desired route

What is really means → Junction ahead of a primary route with non-primary route through a town or village that has been by-passed

18. No, your car won’t float so don’t even try it

What is really means → Water course alongside road ahead

19. Danger. There’s a frying pan and camping stove on the road ahead

What is really means → Slow moving military vehicles likely to be crossing or in the road

20. Yes, now feel free to drive loudly again, regardless of horses on the road

What is really means → End of designated quiet lane in England

All these signs, plus many more can be viewed over at the UK Department of Transport.

Do you have any weird road signs in your country? How do they differ from the ones used here in the UK? Please leave comments below…

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

Yes. Keeping your fingers hovering over Command-S (on Mac) for saving your design work has saved my own work from being lost many times. But is this the greatest design tip ever?

I think so. What about you?

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

Here’s a simple tip for making sure web email address in print look more professional; I’ve been doing this for years now.

When typing an email address into your document, what I have found is the “@” symbol sits on the baseline by default (in the majority of fonts).

In the example above, I have demonstrated that simply by shifting the baseline lower on the “@” symbol, the whole aesthetics of the typography looks a whole lot better.

Number 1 shows the email address without baseline shift correction, whilst number 2 shows the corrected version.

(Technical tip: the baseline shift should be set to a few negative-points (depending on letter size) using the character pallet in Illustrator, Photoshop, etc).

I also adjust the baseline shift on brackets, too.

This method is very ‘perfectionist’, but that’s what makes a good designer a great one

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

Just a quick update to let you know that I’m now on Dribbble. I was kindly drafted a few weeks ago by follow designer Chad Engle of Fuel Your Creativity (you can view his work on Dribbble).

What is Dribbble?

Dribbble is show and tell for designers, developers and other creatives. Members share sneak peeks of their work as “shots” — small screenshots of the designs and applications they are working on. It’s also a place to talk design, give and receive feedback and iterate toward better work (from the Dribbble site FAQ).

I’ve quite taken to this service over the past couple of weeks, and I’ve had some valuable feedback on my designs, too. If you’re currently a user, you can follow me on Dribbble here.

So far, I’ve only uploaded a hand-full of “shots”, but these include a logo design for my Wife’s side-business and my new upcoming blog header.

Do you use Dribbble? What do you think of it?

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

When we were in the midst of the credit crunch, did you hear words like “sub-prime”, “CDO” and “Hedge Fund”, but had little idea about how they were all connected and how this credit crunch derived? Well, I was a little confused myself, but recently I came across this great 2-part infographic by Good.is.

After watching various reports about the credit crunch on the news over 2 years, I had a fair idea about what was going on. However, after just reviewing this infographic for just a few minutes, I suddenly knew 10 times as much.

You can view the infographic on the Good.is site. Part 1 is here and part 2 is here.

I’ve been interested in infographics for years, and have always wanted to design one at some point. The good ones prove that amazing design can indeed teach facts far better than general information and articles.

Further reading suggestions:

Six Revisions: 40 Useful and Creative Infographics

Design You Trust: 50 Great Examples of Infographics

Visualisation Magazine: 100 of the best  most innovative and creative data visualisations and information graphics

Six Revisions: 10 Revealing Infographics about the Web

Infographics Showcase: Various

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

Thanks to all my loyal readers and subscribers. You’ve done a great job sticking by me through a lack of posts lately.

The truth is I’m busy; busy designing, which is a good thing—but unfortunately I haven’t had time to update my main blog here at AndrewKelsall.com

Here’s what I’ve been busy with:

• A Logo design + WordPress website for a Singer/Songwriter

• Another Logo design + WordPress website for a Church

• A poster and leaflet campaign that appeared in local Job Centres (Yorkshire, UK)

• Two sets of fire-route graphics using schematics for 2 buildings

• A set of 5 large format graphics for a transport department

• A set of leaflets and posters for the same Singer/Songwriter

• Another CD cover for a local band

Time-permitting, I’ll be posting some work process’s of a selection of projects soon.

Other News:

I’m now on Dribbble, albeit on-there with just one upload at the moment, but I hope to be dedicated user soon.

The World Cup is on (in case you didn’t know), so I’m trying to watch the matches online whilst working. Now that’s multitasking

I’m looking for people to work with who can competently code PSDs into WordPress themes. Please read this previous post and leave your details if you’re a Star…

Are you a designer? Are you keeping busy? Let me know what you’re up to….

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

On another matter, I would like to point out how important it is to have some “clear space” on a business card design—so potential clients can write handy notes down on it. Why would clients do this? Maybe you’ve spoken to them on the phone, and they quickly need to write down a detail you have told them. Maybe they quickly need to write down your lead-time or ball-park figure quote.

Obviously, if the client thinks that you are the worst designer on the planet, there’s space for that, too

There’s plenty of space on the back of my own business card for clients to scribble on, should they wish. I would like to think that their notes look like the image just above—and not the image from the start of this post.

What’s prompted me to write this fairly humorous article is that lately, I’ve been receiving a fair amount of quote requests just by word-of-mouth and using contact details from my business cards I hand to clients.

It just goes to show, business cards can be a huge asset to the independent designer when they are given to the right people.

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

The 5inch site is packed full of original, exciting and unique CD & DVD print designs, along with special colourful cases to match.

I once ordered some of their discs for a client project, and was very impressed with the quality of their products.

I even received a massive poster showing their CD designs when I made my first order (top photo), which has been on many different walls over the past 3 years.

So, if you ever need a pre-printed custom CDR or DVDR, I would definitely recommend 5inch. They also do hubs and Tees, too

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall

1 | Andrew Kelsall → Design Project Studies and Graphic Design Blog

Like this type of article? Why not subscribe for Free via RSS or Email.

2 | 10 Steps → Photoshop Tutorials and Resources

4 | 1st Web Designer → Design and Freelance

5 |  Aaron Russell’s Blog → Web Design Tips

6 | Abduzeedo → Tutorials, Wallpapers and Design Showcase

7 | Aiburn → Art, Inspiration and Vectors

8 |  Andrew Keir →  Graphic Design & Inspiration Blog

9 |  Andy Sowards →  Web Design and Development Links

10 |  Anidan Design → Web Development and WordPress

11 | Anti-Social Development → WordPress Tips and Links

12 | Arbenting →  | Tutorials and inspiration

13 | Bittbox → Web Development and Freebies

14 | Blog Perfume → WordPress Tips and Themes

15 | Boag World → Web Design and Podcasting

16 | Brian Yerkes → Graphic & Web Design

17 | Chris Wallace → Worpress Themes and Blog

18 | ColourBurned → Graphic Design Resources and Tutorials

19 | Creatica Daily → Design Inspiration

20 | Creative Curio → Graphic Design & Inspiration Blog

15 | Creative Overflow → Photoshop and Anything Creative!

21 | CSS Tricks → CSS, Code and Web

22 | David Airey → Logo Design and Branding

23 | Dead Wings Designs →Print Design and Helpful Resources

24 | Design Blurb → Tutorials and Freebies

25 | Designer Daily → Graphic, Web Design and Inspiration

26 | Design Shard → Design, Inspiration and Free Resources

27 | Design Flavr → Art and Design Inspiration

28 | DesignM.ag → Web Development, Galleries and Inspiration

29 | Dev Snippets → Code, Galleries and Inspiration

30 | Design O’ Blog → Graphic Design and Illustration

31 | Designus → Design Resources and Freebies

32 | Digital Arts → Design Inspiration Magazine

33 | Dosh Dosh → Internet Marketing and Social Media

34 | Dot Design →  | Graphic Design & Inspiration Blog

35 | Doug Draws →  | Cartoons & Blogging

36 | DzineBlog → Inspiration and Resources

37 | Echo enduring Blog → Design, Illustration  and Writing

38 | Elite by Design → Tutorials, Inspiration, and Resources

39 | Elliot Jay Stocks → Design, Illustration and WordPress

40 | Forty Seven Media Blog → Web and Graphic Design Blog

41 | Freelance Folder → Freelance Advice and Resources

42 | Freelance Switch → Freelance Advice and Resources

43 | Fudge Graphics → Free Textures and Resources

44 | Fuel Your Creativity → Inspiration, Freebies and Articles

45 | Function → Web Design and Development Blog

46 | Gabe Taviano → “Technology meets Eternity” Design Blog

47 | GoMediaZine → Tutorials, Freebies and Graphic Design Blog

48 | Helvetic Brands → Logo Design and Branding

49 | iDesignStudios Blog → Web Design and Freelancing

50 | I’m Just Creative → Logo Design and Brand Identity

51 | Inspiration Bit → Web Design, Photography and Blogging

52 | Inspiredology → Web Design and Inspiration

53 | InstantShift → Web Designers and Developers Daily Resource

54 | Janko At Warp Speed → Web Design, Freebies and Tutorials

55 | Just Creative Design → Graphic and Logo Design Blog

56 | Kyle Steed → Life + Design + Faith

57 | Laughing Lion Design Blog → Graphic Design and Inspiration

58 | Logo Design Love → Logo Design Blog

59 | Loon Design → Tutorials, Comic and Freelance

60 | Lost and Taken → Free High Resolution Textures

61 | Mayhem Studios → Graphic Design and Marketing

62 | MediaLoot → Premium Graphic Design Resources

63 | MyInkBlog → Graphic and Web Design

64 | Naldz Graphics → Tutorials, Freebies and Inspiration

65 | Net Tuts → Web Tutorials and Freebies

66 | Noupe → Photoshop, Tutorials and WordPress

67 | Outlaw Design Blog → Freebies, Tutorials and Resources

68 | Pixelflips → Web & Interface Designs

69 | Pro Blog Design →Wordpress, CSS and Php

70 |  PSDFAN→ Photoshop Tutorials, Inspiration and Freebies

71 |  PSD Tuts → Photoshop Tutorials, Inspiration and Videos

Like this type of article? Why not subscribe for Free via RSS or Email.

72 | QVectors → Vector Freebies and Blog

73 | Redswish → Web Design and Marketing Blog

74 |  Rob Cubbon → Web design, print graphics & more!

75 |  Script and Style → Design and Web Development Blog

76 | Sharebrain → Web Design, Fonts and Graphics

77 |  Six Revisions → Web Development and Design Information

78 | Smashing Apps → Free and Useful Online Resources for Designers and Developers

79 | Smashing Magazine → Graphics, Inspiration, Coding and Design Magazine

80 | Spoon Graphics → Photoshop & Illustrator Tutorials and Freebies

81 | Standout Blogger → Blogging Tips To Help Improve Your Blogging

82 | STYL.ETI.ME → Design news and links

83 | Texture Lovers → Free Textures, Inspiration and Resources

84 |  The Design Cubicle → Graphic Design, Twitter links and Inspiration

85 |  The Roxor → Freebies, Tutorials, Logos, Package Design and Photography

86 | The Dieline → Package Design and Inspiration

87 | The Graphic Mac → Mac OS X tips, tutorials, resources and software reviews

88 | Think Design → Graphic Design Freebies, Resources, and Inspiration

89 | Tracey Grady → Graphic Design, Web Design and Illustration

90 | Tutorial9 → Photoshop Tutorials, Photography Tuts, and Resources

91 | Usability Post → Usability issues for Web and Design

92 | Vectips → Illustrator Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials

93 | Vectordairy → Illustrator Tutorials & Tips

94| Vector Tuts → Adobe Illustrator and Vector Tutorials

95 | Veerle’s Blog → Webdesign, CSS and Graphic Design Blog

96 | We Are Not Freelancers → Web, and Design Blog from Obox Design

97 | Web Designer Depot → Web  Design Resources and Tutorials

98 | Web Design Ledger → Web Design Blog, Tutorials and Inspiration

99 | Well Medicated → Graphic Design and Inspiration Blog

100 | WP Beginner → Beginner’s Guide for WordPress + Resources

Okay, I worked on this list at various times over the last couple of months, so some of the graphics will be outdated. However, I do expect that I will expand upon this list and add other sites on at a later date. There are plenty of quality design blogs out there, so if I missed your blog, it may get added on the next revision

This post is Copyright Andrew Kelsall, author of the Andrew Kelsall Graphic Design Blog.Andrew Kelsall | Creative Designer - Graphic Design Blog of Andrew Kelsall