Tricket & Webb made a classic contribution

I was saddened to be reminded that Trickett & Webb ceased trading last year (DW 18 December). I have great memories of working with the many designers that learned their craft working under Brian Webb and Lynn Trickett.

After a conversation with Webb in the late 1980s, I created a book called The Classics, showing 24 classic typefaces with varying letter spacing, so that designers would know exactly what the finished job would look like. He told me that ‘less was more’ and that he had half a dozen favourite typefaces and was frustrated at how different typesetters spaced the type, making it difficult for his designers to know exactly how it would look when it came back.

Within a month I had 3000 books printed and they were all gone inside two months. Anyone who still has a copy tucked away, remember to thank Webb next time you see him.

Webb and Trickett were among the 30 original designers who attended the first Podge lunch [for consultancy heads] and when we celebrate our tenth anniversary in 2004 I think a toast will be in order for two people who have been fantastic ambassadors for design over many years.

Best of luck for the future, guys.

Phil Jones

Vice-chairman

EHS Brann

London EC1