LogoStroke
Client creative brief pinned to cork board with typed direction document, pencil sketch, and brand color swatches

The Brief

CLIENT: Maison Lefèvre
BRIEF: Logotype for a new fragrance house.
FEELING: Quiet luxury, old-world craft,
the weight of a wax seal.
REFERENCE: Reject all existing fonts.
DEADLINE: 3 weeks

Finished calligraphic logotype photographed flat-lay on textured cotton paper showing hairlines and swells at print resolution

The Finished Work

Maison Lefèvre

Pointed nib · Sumi ink · 300gsm cotton

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Luxury Logotype · Maison Lefèvre

The logotype
no font file
could give them.

The Problem

Rejected logo sheet showing multiple generic typeface attempts for Maison Lefèvre fragrance house brief

Six rounds of type-set proposals. Every leading font house tried. None carried the weight of a wax seal. The brief said: reject all existing fonts.

The Brief

"We need a mark that feels like it was written by someone who has been writing for a hundred years."

— Isabelle Moreau, Creative Director

6

Rounds

23

Fonts rejected

3

Weeks

The Process

Close-up of pointed nib cutting ink across cotton paper grain showing ink pooling at terminals

Nib study · Nikko G

Test sheet showing thirty variations of the ampersand letterform for Maison Lefèvre logotype

30 ampersand studies

Annotated sketch sheet with calligrapher pencil notes on letterform proportions and spacing

Annotated sketches

Final ink test on 300gsm cotton paper showing full logotype before scanning

Final ink pull

Maison Lefèvre finished calligraphic logotype letterpress-printed on 300gsm cotton stock showing impression of nib pressure

Maison Lefèvre

Pointed nib · Sumi ink · 300gsm Crane & Co. cotton · Letterpress printed

Have a brief like this?

Wedding Invitation Suite · Harrington–Delacroix

340 envelopes,
one hand,
no two alike.

The Problem

Bland printed invitation proof showing generic digital font addressing that failed to convey the reception's luxury tone

The printer's digital addressing looked like a utility bill. Three hundred guests at a venue that had hosted royalty. The planner called on a Tuesday. The wedding was in six weeks.

"Every guest should feel the envelope was written for them alone. That's the only brief I have."

— Charlotte Voss, Wedding Planner

340

Envelopes

110lb

Paper stock

6

Weeks

4

Ink pots

The Process

Close-up of pointed nib addressing wedding envelope showing ink pooling at terminals of capital letters

Nib addressing session

Copperplate script

Test sheet showing address lettering variations on Crane and Co 110lb cotton paper

Paper test · Crane & Co.

110lb cotton

Drying rack with completed addressed envelopes showing consistent calligraphic style across all 340 pieces

Drying rack · Day 8

42 envelopes/day

Final stack of completed addressed envelopes with wax seal visible on top envelope

Final stack

Ready to post

Completed Harrington-Delacroix wedding invitation suite flat-lay on linen tablecloth showing hand-addressed envelopes and letterpress printed cards

Harrington–Delacroix

Copperplate script · Walnut ink · Crane & Co. 110lb cotton · 340 hand-addressed pieces

Planning a reception that deserves this?

Editorial Masthead · Éclat Magazine

A masthead
that earns
the newsstand.

The Problem

Generic magazine cover showing digital typeface masthead that lacks character and distinction on newsstand

"Every luxury magazine uses the same four typefaces. We wanted something that couldn't be downloaded."

— Théo Marchand, Art Director, Éclat

The Sketches

First annotated masthead sketch with pencil notes on E letterform arch height and terminal weight

Rev. 01 — "É too upright"

Second iteration masthead sketch showing adjusted ascender height with calligrapher annotation about ink flow

Rev. 03 — "closer, soften É"

Fifth revision showing near-final Éclat masthead letterforms with annotation about c-t ligature

Rev. 05 — "c–t ligature works"

Final approved masthead ink pull on layout paper showing complete Éclat wordmark at magazine scale

Rev. 06 — approved

Instrument

Leonardt Copperplate No. 1

Finest nib for hairline precision at masthead scale

Ink

Carbon black + 3% gum arabic

Archival density for reproduction at newsstand scale

Revisions

6

Over 4 weeks, 3 in-person reviews with art director

Éclat Magazine cover on newsstand showing hand-lettered masthead printed at full scale with visible ink texture and letterform character

Éclat

Leonardt Copperplate · Carbon ink · 6 revisions · Newsstand-ready

Need a masthead that no typeface can give you?

Begin a Commission

Tell me what you
need to feel.

This form is a brief. The more precisely you describe the feeling you want the letters to carry, the more precisely I can answer it.

No pricing, no packages — just a conversation about your commission.