Bold new book from Counter Print celebrates the joys of 3D typography

Counter Print's latest book, Three Dimensional Type, is a thing of beauty that will teach you a lot about this ever-evolving discipline.

Written By: Tom May

29 February 2024

Open book spread showing Stylist Magazine cover with pink sphere surrounded by colourful 3D letter forms on blue background, and interior pages featuring the magazine design and mobile display on yellow background

Three-dimensional typography has held a special allure in the design world for many years now. It has an uncanny power to captivate and engage viewers and lift your designs beyond the normal 2D type.

3D type can help elevate your design work in various ways by injecting a palpable sense of realism, for example, or alternatively, a spirit of playfulness and humour.

And as AI and realistic effects continue to gain momentum, it is no surprise that 3D typography is becoming increasingly important to design today. In that light, the latest book from Counter Print is a timely release.

Page 104 of Three Dimensional Type showing two colourful quilted typographic designs with text and imagery in vibrant pink, purple, yellow and green

Open pages from Three Dimensional Type book showing oversized blue and tan numerals, red cylindrical letters, and yellow letterforms in various outdoor settings

Three Dimensional Type is a beautifully produced compilation that showcases the seemingly limitless possibilities of letterforms transformed into objects of art.

The best talent

Lavishly illustrated with over 200 pages of eye-popping examples, with photography by Thom Atkinson, the softbound book showcases the best in 3D typography from creative talent around the world, including Snask, João Varela, StudioSpass and Zuzanna Rogatty.

From drop shadows and typographic signage to AI-generated typography and hand lettering, each page invites you to explore the fusion of the familiar and the extraordinary, providing a vast array of inspiration.

Spread from Three Dimensional Type book showing JB Scrub product packaging with blue and red cylindrical containers on yellow background, and a hand dispensing product onto another hand against coral backdrop

Open pages from Three Dimensional Type showing Bravo Design's textured 3D letterforms and Audace(s) poster displayed on an outdoor billboard

Each featured work, moreover, is accompanied by insightful project descriptions, offering a glimpse into the creative thinking behind the designs and enhancing the educational value of the book.

Visual power

As AI, 3D software and virtual environments continue to transform design, three-dimensional typography is becoming more and more central to capturing people's imaginations. This book, which comes with a foreword by Jon Dowling, explains exactly why 3D type holds such visual power and allure.

Open pages from Three Dimensional Type book showing blue 3D typography installation and signage examples photographed from above and in situ

Counter-Print's Three Dimensional Type book cover featuring coral-coloured 3D tubular letterforms with metallic highlights against a plain background

Beautifully produced with a tactile cover designed by Atelier Baudelaire x Clément Frassi, the Three Dimensional Type showcases how text can be transformed into something close to a physical object that transcends the page. In doing so, it expands our perceptions of what typography can be.

In short, for designers looking to elevate their work, this survey of groundbreaking 3D type projects provides a wealth of inspiration.