The typewriter and the touchscreen may have made the sight of a friend’s handwriting a more rare occurrence, but Philip Hensher champions the everyday artform as a true reflection of personality that shouldn’t be left behind in the 20th century. We tend to agree, and, as Hensher observes in his book The Missing Ink, have seen a resurgence in appreciation for the handwritten word in direct response to the sterility and uniformity of typed letters. Hand lettering has seen a huge upswing in the world of art and design in the past ten years, and calligraphy is as prized as ever.

The marks we make when transcribing our thoughts via hand are designed by us in the moment as a form of communication as distinct as our voice. Whether a grocery list for ourselves or a thank-you note to a friend, there are many out there who have rediscovered the importance of handwriting and recognize that it still has a place in this world of glowing screens. We’re glad Philip Hensher sees this too.

Mollie Little