Typefaces Based on Handwriting of the Homeless
It’s natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth. Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity’s highest callings. – Steven Pinker
In Barcelona, Spain, a charity has appeared, and it is not your ordinary charity. The Arrels Foundation is trying to help the homeless by marketing their handwriting as fonts, when pitching new projects to brands. The typefaces can be used for personal gain for 19€, or for commercial use for 290€.
Each font is named by its creator, and the homelessfonts.org website has a page for each and one of them, telling their story so you can better understand what it is like to actually be a homeless person. The Valonga brand is the first one to break the ice and use the fonts to help out. We picked some of them to showcase in this article and don’t forget to leave us your thoughts in the comment section below.
1. Loraine
Loraine was a born in London, and had a normal life, with everyday problems, that everyone encounters, until 2009 when she decided to take a trip to Barcelona. Due to a series of unfortunate events, she got her passport stolen, and she found herself in trouble with the British embassy.
Someone made illegal activities with her passport, so she was stuck in Spain, knowing no one, with no money left, just stranded in a place filled with strangers. And she couldn’t ask for help in England, because she didn’t have where to turn to. Loraine sold all her possessions so she can manage on the streets of Barcelona, she bought food, and water, but slept under the stars, because she couldn’t afford a place to sleep in. Loraine learned Spanish the hard way, and decided to take life heads on.
“ Living in the street is a wonderful adventure. There are lots of people who prefer to sleep under the stars.” – she also tells us that she made a lot of friends, and discovered a whole new city, a whole new culture, a whole new country, just by living the way of the homeless. Loraine is the first one to have her typeface bought and used by a brand.
2. Luis Serra
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Luis Serra was born in Alicante, but life guided him to Barcelona. In Alicante he had a wife, a family, a stable job, but at the age of 35 divorce managed to creep into their lives and he had to find a new path. He went to Barcelona dreaming of a new beginning, a fresh new start. Working numerous odd jobs, he didn’t find the stability he sought, and life brought him to the streets.
The streets are filled with tension, filled with horrors. He had to learn how to adapt to this new lifestyle, he had to learn fast how to get a meal, constantly move so he can find a new place to sleep every night. Luis is a shy man, that enjoys the little things in life like walking in the mountains, or celebrating his favorite football teams victories – FC Barcelona.
“ The street is much worse now, there is more trouble, there is more tension” says Luis, with 4 years living experience in Barcelona. Do you have a project that you would like to use this typeface? Don’t be afraid, and contact them. Not only you will get a beautiful new font, but you will help someone in need.
3. Francisco
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Source: Image 5
Francisco was born in Spain, but raised in Brazil. He spent years of travelling in South America, leaving his life as a designer behind. Being eager to see new things, to have new experiences, to constantly learn new things prevented him to ever get settled in one place.
He decided that he wanted to seek his roots, and come back to Spain, but he returned an old man, and Barcelona, more exactly life, didn’t help him the way he imagined. He was stuck in the streets. “ The experience of the street has taken away my vanity.” – Francisco tells us.
“ The only thing I have learnt in life is that in life you have to learn, because if you spend your life without learning you haven’t lived.” Life on the street has taught Francisco how hard it can be, how unbearable it may seem at times, and how you learn to appreciate good people that lend a hand. Let your worries behind you, do what you want, experience life as you want it. It is a short trip, and we need to make the best of it.
4. Gemma
Gemma, born in 1977 in Madrid, led herself in Barcelona to start over again. But a series of misfortunate events, and a couple of wrong decisions crippled her path, and instead of guiding her to a normal life, she was grounded to the streets. Gemma is a calm, and emotional human being, that likes to listen, and the street gives you plenty of time to just listen.
The worst thing about being a homeless person is not the lack of a place to call home, is the lack of the little things, that we all take for granted, such as the clean smell after a warm shower in the morning, a hot breakfast accompanied with a cool beverage in the summer, the possibility of buying a metro ticket, the possibility of buying anything without worrying that you could have kept that dollar so you can live another day. But what can you do to get passed these things? “ It is the best way to get to know human beings” Gemma tells us.
She sees this experience as being in school, re-learning how life can be, how cruel it can get. She has been in and out for too long, and she needs our help. If you think you can help her, give them a message, buy their fonts, use them and make their lives better.
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