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Joseph Churchward

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Joseph Churchward
QSM
Churchward receives the Queen's Service Medal from Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand in 2010
Born(1932-08-20)20 August 1932
Apia, Samoa
Died26 April 2013(2013-04-26) (aged 80)
Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation(s)Graphic designer and typographer

Joseph Churchward QSM (20 August 1932 – 26 April 2013) was a Samoan-born New Zealand graphic designer and typographer. He is known for having designed an estimated 690 original typefaces,[1] many of which are in use around the world. His designs were also used in the masthead of The Evening Post newspaper.[2]

Churchward was born in Apia, Samoa, of Samoan, English, Scottish, Tongan and Chinese heritage.[2][3] He came from the 'aiga (family) Sā Anae, and the villages of Faleasiu and Tufulele.[4] Historian Safua Akelei Amaama writes, "Churchward's childhood memories of drawing letters in the sand in Sāmoa inspired his practice".[5] Churchward moved to New Zealand in 1946 to study at Miramar South School in Wellington. In 1948, he obtained an Art Distinction Award in Lettering from Wellington Technical College and began a career as a commercial artist.[6]

He founded Churchward International Typefaces in 1969, eventually New Zealand's largest typesetting firm.[7] In 1970 Churchward entered an agreement with German company Berthold Fototype, who subsequently distributed his fonts throughout the world.[6][8] Over the span of his career, Churchward created more than 600 original typefaces.[3][1] In 2008, a special exhibition was set up for his art at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa,[6] which also hold his archive and collection.[1]

He was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to typography.[9]

He died on 26 April 2013 in Wellington from bowel cancer.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Chitham, Karl; Māhina-Tuai, Kolokesa U.; Skinner, Damian Hugh, eds. (1 January 2019). Crafting Aotearoa: A Cultural History of Making in New Zealand and the wider Moana Oceania. p. 245.
  2. ^ a b c Stewart, Matt (6 May 2013). "Creating typefaces for the world". Dominion Post. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Joseph's a master of letters". The Wellingtonian. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Joseph Churchward – a life at the typeface". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ Chitham, Karl (2019). Crafting Aotearoa : a cultural history of making in New Zealand and the wider Moana Oceania. Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai, Damian Skinner, Rigel Sorzano. Wellington, New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-9941362-7-5. OCLC 1118996645.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ a b c "Letter Man: Joseph Churchward's world of type". Museum of New Zealand / Te Papa Tongarewa. 22 December 2015.
  7. ^ Safua Akeli Amaama (2010). "Letter Man: representing graphic designer Joseph Churchward". Tuhinga: Records of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 21. Te Papa: 1–11. ISSN 1173-4337. Wikidata Q106839782.
  8. ^ "Graphic type". The Press. 27 August 1970. Retrieved 9 March 2022 – via Paperspast.
  9. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2010". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
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