Eye Magazine

Later this year, Circa will publish Typo* – A Scrapbook of Typographic Obsession. Conceived and edited by Andy Altmann, and completed shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer in October last year, the book is a fitting tribute to Altmann’s distinctive way of looking at the world around him.

Altmann, who was 63, was for 33 years a founding partner of Why Not Associates (see ‘Type as entertainment’, Eye no. 7). Following the studio’s 1987 launch by Altmann with David Ellis and Howard Greenhalgh, recent graduates of the Royal College of Art’s MA graphics course, the studio established itself as one of the UK’s leading voices in contemporary graphic design, a creative force that became known for its typographic flair and playful sense of the unorthodox. (Greenhalgh left in 1993.) Their designs for the Royal Mail sat alongside work for Next, the Barbican, Paul Smith and Nike. The studio’s multi-disciplinary, often experimental work straddled everything from identity design and TV idents through to publishing, exhibition design and environmental graphics. Why Not Associates won the Tokyo Type Directors’ Club Grand Prize three times.

Altmann’s interests were always wide and reached way beyond graphic design and typography into other cultural forces, in particular British comedy. Sometimes the Why Nots combined all three, as they did with the Comedy Carpet (2013) in Blackpool, one of several collaborations with artist Gordon Young. This resulted in a much-loved piece of public art, with Altmann’s ear for the comedic and eye for type running right through its 160,000 stone letters.

As a magpie for interesting printed things, Altmann cherished the vernacular. In 2021, his collection of graphic ephemera would be turned into a crowdfunded book, Tat* (see Eye 101). Typo* continues this long-held intention to shine a light on forgotten and unsung typographic treats. Altmann’s own generosity of spirit and love of good company and good humour shine through in the ways in which he is remembered here. Mark Sinclair

Andy Altmann (1962-2025) is survived by his wife Justine, and by his sons Eddy and Callum and their mother Chrissy Levett.

Tributes by David Jenkins, David Ellis, Chrissie Charlton, Gordon Young, Gert Dumbar, Justine Tabak and Andy Stevens

Read the full version in Eye no. 110 vol. 28, 2026