Enter Toronto Type, a website recently started by type enthusiast and web developer Michael Lynch. Although still in its infancy, Lynch hopes to create a vast catalogue of this city's signage through his own documentary efforts and by encouraging readers to submit their own photos. Unlike similar efforts from other photographers, if the early photos on the site are any indication, here the focus is firmly on the type itself and the urban milieux is mostly pushed to the side.
I recently caught up with Lynch to ask him about the project and some of the early choices he's made in putting the website together.
Growing up I was always fascinated by signage. I remember driving around with my parents and reciting out loud every sign I saw on the street. Needless to say, my parents hated it. I'm sure that's where my interest in typography and specifically signage began. The actual project however was inspired by a photo I took of the American Apparel sign on Queen St. about six months ago. I took note of it because it was different from their brand and after posting it on Facebook and receiving some attention, I knew a collection of some sort could be great for designers and typographers who are probably already noticing this kind of thing anyway.
What exactly do hope to do with it (how extensive do you hope the catalogue becomes)?
In the short term I'm focusing on getting other contributors to help post as many quality photos as I can and while that's going on I'm going to be testing out new features, such as adding a Google map to each post. Another priority of mine is designing and developing a mobile version of the site, which will likely be launched in the coming months.
In the long term I hope to get a good chunk of the GTA covered. I also hope to get the actual businesses and designers involved by either running contests, doing interviews or perhaps doing something else entirely.
What's the logic behind the site design you've chosen?
I'm a web developer by day so user experience (UX) design is something I take very seriously. I knew I wanted the typography in each photo to be the focal point, meaning everything else would be either less significant (like the dashboard, meta data and comments) or removed entirely. For this reason I wanted to do more of a gallery interface rather than your typical navigation and column based layout. Ultimately I thought the full screen UI accomplished these goals more than any other layout would have.
When will reader submissions be accepted?
Users will be able to upload their own images starting next Friday, May 4. Each image will be screened by myself before being published but the user will be credited as the author.
Have you thought about laying out the photos in grid format?
When I first built the site I actually included a toggle between the current full screen view and a secondary grid view. What I found however was that based on the way I had developed the site, the grid view posed more problems than it was worth. With both views on the same page, loading became a nightmare and that wasn't even on tablets or mobile devices where data plans and WiFi create their own restrictions. It's worth nothing though that I didn't lose the grid view all together. I actually repurposed it for the search results, where it's more important to see multiple posts in one view. And who knows, if there's a demand for it, I may consider working on it and bringing it back into the gallery.
Photos from Toronto Type
It seems like every time I see an article about Toronto's live music scene, all anyone seems to write about are tribute acts composed of Humber music graduates. Insert SarcMark here. But, more seriously, when I saw 
Their lead singer 
This band is not trying to do the note-for-note thing; they're going for a greater truth.
From the costuming to the arrangements to the guest performers, Purple Revolution are aiming not to mimic the sound or the exact look of Prince & the Revolution. They're aiming higher, trying to channel the spirit of the original.
The same way that people talk about how superheroes are our new Greek Gods and their stories exist as contemporary mythology, entertainment figures have become, in a manner of speaking, messiah-like via their larger than life on and off-stage escapades as well as their fiercely devoted followings. 
So when you're going to stage a revival like Purple Revolution, there's always a risk of dogma: you can follow the original persona and end up doing mere mimicry — idolization, some might call it — or you can bring your own thing to it to try to get at the truth of the thing.
What I love about Purple Revolution is that they offer an authentic tribute without being dogmatic. In deviating from the formula and going their own way, they exceed the expectations most of us have set for tribute bands. Their music is technically derivative to be sure — but not nearly to the extent that one might think. 
Opening act 
Purple Revolution Set list:
Guest contribution by 
Borrowing its name from a Caribbean destination, this basement bar in Chinatown isn't the place to go for Pina Coladas, Mai Tais or other tropical indulgences. Instead, its main attraction just might be its commitment to electronic music and a dance floor that's big enough to get a groove on.
BOOKS & LIT | 
Looking through Chris Young's 
What's the average day like for you?
How does shooting in Toronto compare to the other places you've been, and what makes it unique?
Favourite places in TO to shoot?
Describe the process for the "Two minute portraits" that you did for TIFF?
To see more of Chris Young's photos, check out his 
