Starting a Lettering Morgue File
The name itself sounds scary.
But, the term “morgue file” has been in use for years. According to an excerpt of this video:
“A morgue file originally was the paper-folders containing old files and notes that were kept by criminal investigators, and old article clippings kept by newspaper reporters, in case they became of later use as a quick-reference. In modern usage, its scope has expanded to cover many post-production materials for use of reference, or an inactive job file…The term has also been used by illustrators, comic book artists, designers and teachers.”
The video is based on a Wikipedia article, but it’s consistent with most references.
By that definition, I’d think of Pinterest as an all-encompassing, modern day, digital morgue file. Like many, I use Pinterest to collect ideas on everything, including letters. In fact, one of my favorite lettering artists-the very prolific, Stefan Kunz-uses Pinterest like a morgue file to generate ideas about what kinds of styles to use in his work.
Honestly, right now, for me, neither the strict traditional or digital version of these options work as a great source when I’m drawing letters. A filing cabinet is just impractical. I’m a full-time working mother and new wife. I’d never look at it. And Pinterest gives me so much shiny, object syndrome when it comes to letters, I’d never figure out what I wanted to do next….Not to mention, when I Pinterest-surf, my time to actually draw goes down the drain exponentially.
Nope. I go to Pinterest to procrastinate.
Not surprisingly, when I researched morgue files, I found an interesting case of an award-winning artist who threw out his morgue file of three years. In the end, he felt keeping a traditional morgue file had hampered his personal voice. It just didn’t inspire him when he used it.
So, is it even worth it to have one?
I think it is. If you’re still new, like me, I think it’s especially helpful to see various letterforms and how they can be manipulated to express specific ideas and moods…or even just how they’re used in design. I think it helps for studying how certain letterforms are constructed and to see how words are assembled. I think it can likely help develop sensitivity to the feel of letters over time. Much like a mood board, I also think it can help clearly determine one’s own interests as you see certain motifs come to the fore of your collection.
But, of the myriad samples put out in the world, I also think it’s difficult to know which pieces should end up on the cutting floor too. In the end, I want my morgue file to help, not hinder.
One piece of advice given by Ken Barber in his book Lettering Manual that caused me to choose to assemble a morgue file clarified it for me. He basically stated that a morgue file is made up as much of what’s not included in it as what is. So, being discriminate is key. It’s also more about being inspired and taking off on your own ideas with a few hints regarding technicalities like letter structure rather than totally ripping off an idea.
For me, this all translates into only clipping things that truly excite me wherever I find them…in ads, outdoors or online. It also means, in a practical sense, keeping the whole “file” slim, so I can carry it with me and actually look at it from time to time.
For my morgue file, rather than buy an actual notebook that I’d feel pressured to fill, I made a small notebook out of a few sheets of drawing paper I had on-hand that I can slip in my traveler’s notebook. If I can only carry a few clips at a time, I have to be very selective about the categories and what goes into them…
Keeping it with my sketchbook means, I can reference it while I’m drawing without getting so distracted as I do on Pinterest or desperately (and unsuccessfully) trying to find the time to go down to my office to thumb through files.
I plan to wrap this file in a plastic dashboard so that it can stand the beating of being frequently handled. But, other than that, I’m keeping it simple.
I assume at some point, I could outgrow the use of this morgue file after having digested whatever inspiration I wanted from it. But that’s okay. I could then file it away and start a new one. No big deal. Practical and useful-no bloat.
Do you also keep a morgue file? How do you keep yours?
