LetterMpress is a Kickstarter project that’s all about appreciating, and breathing a bit of life back into, traditional letterpress printing. The project includes an iPad app, the acquisition of collections of authentic wood type, and the establishment of a new letterpres co-op called ‘Living Letter Press’.
Here’s the stated goal of the project:
Our goal is to give designers, artists, students, lovers of type—anyone—the ability to produce their own authentic letterpress designs and artwork.
LetterMpress, the iPad app, will be a virtual letterpress environment that allows anyone to create authentic-looking letterpress designs and prints. You’ll be able to print your designs directly from the app, or save them for use in other apps. The app will include at least a dozen typefaces and around 50 art ‘cuts’ – and these will be expanded with updates to the app. It will be priced at $5.99.
Years ago I worked in a corporate design agency, way back in the days when traditional typesetting was still very much around and not yet replaced by digital processes – so this app / project has nostalgic appeal for me. And I put a bit of money where my nostalgia is as well – this is the first Kickstarter project I’ve ever contributed to.
Happily, the LetterMpress project has already well exceeded it’s funding target – and it’s still got 46 days to go.
To see all the details on this project, or to pitch in towards its funding, visit its Kickstarter page here:

This is such an inspired idea. More evidence that the iPad is more about creativity rather than who has the most SD card slots…