Kelsey Elder is an educator & typographer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


Selected Projects
Identity/Typeface
Team
2022

Dinner With Strangers

Logotype/Identity
Team
2022

Coterie Baby

Typeface
Personal
2022

Meager 

Identity/Branding
Personal
2021

Second Shift Autowerks

Python/Programming
Teaching
2021

All Possible Arcs

Identity/Branding
Team
2021

Rise Strength

Programming/Motion
Personal
2020

Letter.matter

Exhibition/Lettering
Team
2019

Why Don’t You Carve Other Animals

Supergraphics
Personal
2019

Ameri-Candied Dreams

Exhibition/Lettering
Team
2019

Dead Bird Letters

Lettering
Personal
on-going

Greeting Cards


Archive
Lettering
Personal
on-going

Sketchbook + Outtakes

Branding/Experience
Personal
on-going

Lowered Values

Lettering
Personal
2022

Team Juice

Lettering
Personal
2021

Strong Boys Club

Identity/Branding
Personal
2021

Drinking Buddies

Lettering
Personal
2021

Pint-Sized Power

Programming/Web
Team
2020

A Wedding Website for Friends

Book Design
Team
2016

Simple Forms, Stunning Glazes

Supergraphic
Personal
2016

Fre$h Patina! (of Fool’s Gold)

Programming/Typeface
Personal
2016

Varnish

Sign/Supergraphic
Team
2016

Casualties & Casual Tees



↗︎  About + Bio  
↗︎  Contact

Mark

Varnish


Varnish is a customizable typeface which uses the .otf format to archive hand-lettering on used car lots and automotive repair garages on Woodward Avenue; a historic stretch of road which connects Detroit to Pontiac, Michigan. 

Using Python programming and OpenType, Varnish gives the user the ability to modify the typeface—akin to how one modifies the form and function of their car. Alternates, ligatures, specialized dingbats, and a jumping baseline option provide a defamiliarized relationship in the experience of using and setting letterforms. Varnish is coded to allow user-controlled  ‘manual selection’ to change-out letters, ligatures, and figures—as well as automated options—making the typographic possibilities (nearly) endlessly variable. 



Mark