In their own words
We wanted to create something that felt steeped in tradition but also new and unexpected.
This is how we developed what we came to refer to as the ‘half-slab,’ or characters with both slab and sans serif sensibilities.
We find monospaced fonts to be fascinating in how they were customary on typewriters.
We chose a rich forest green to complement a soothing sage green... then wanted to inject some energy and excitement into the brand with an electric green.
The inspiration for this project came about after I had stumbled across a group of skateboarders on the streets of Tribeca while perusing Google Earth for some forgotten reason. The carefree and rebellious nature of this large posse of kids simultaneously sparked a memory of both my youth, as well as my love for the foreign land that is New York.
Articles & interviews6
- It’s time to celebrate! We look back with Forth + Back as they reach their five-year anniversary
The Brand Identity interviews Los Angeles-based studio Forth + Back as they celebrate their five-year anniversary with a new brand refresh and website. Founders Nikolos Killian and Tanner Woodbury reflect on their growth, key projects, and lessons learned, including collaborations with Smirnoff, The Athletic, and UCR Arts. The duo discuss the evolving design landscape, their approach to process, and upcoming typeface releases.
- Forth + Back’s identity for Rhythm Season reflects the crossover between jazz culture and boxing
Forth + Back created the identity for Craft Boxing’s first apparel collection, Rhythm Season, inspired by the intersection of jazz culture and boxing. The design combines monospaced typography, hand-rendered illustrations, and a vibrant yet balanced color palette referencing classic jazz album art. The result is a rhythmic, expressive visual system that bridges tradition and modernity.