Top Hat is an analog, Art Deco-inspired typeface influenced by the vintage signage of the Top Hat Bingo Hall in Medicine Hat. The old sign, with its elegant lettering, captures the essence of a bygone era, and I sought to bring that history forward through hand-drawn letterforms.

Starting with grid paper, I explored the refined, slender forms of Art Deco typography—favouring tall, thin structures, double-lined details, and high-to-low crossbars. The result is a capital letter typeface with small caps for uniformity, designed specifically for bold applications like titles, posters, and billboards.

To showcase Top Hat, I created a promotional poster inspired by a bingo card, reinforcing the typeface’s origins. The final design features a bold red background with the letters placed in a structured grid, echoing the classic bingo layout. The challenge was fitting the full alphabet while maintaining the integrity of the design, but the end result is a striking homage to the typeface’s roots.

Now digitized, Top Hat embodies the spirit of craftsmanship, nostalgia, and bold visual storytelling.