As design stalwart Nik Moran celebrates ten years at Spiral, he takes a look at how some of the most recent developments have rocked his world and waxes lyrical about one of his enduring passions – great typefaces!

It’s my ten-year Spiral work anniversary. And ten years is a long time. It makes me wonder where all the time went – and why my hair didn’t make the journey with me!

Spiral has always been a close-knit crew. We rely on the unique skills each person brings and over the years we’ve become ever more resourceful and quicker to adapt. That adaptability has been our secret sauce – the reason we’ve stayed resilient, relevant, and ready for whatever the design world throws at us. And lately, with AI reshaping the landscape, that skill feels more vital than ever.

A decade of design developments

In the past ten years, we’ve seen some big shifts: the rise of digital platforms, the growing influence of UX and UI design, the way social media drives trends, and a stronger focus on sustainability and ethics in design. Accessibility has also stepped into the spotlight, shaping not just what we design but how we design it.

Staying current in a crowded market isn’t optional – it’s survival. I’ve seen how embracing new tools and ideas can turn a looming challenge into a confidence boost. At Spiral, we face change head-on. We talk, debate, assess the impact, and make a plan. That’s not changing anytime soon – especially as we look ahead to the next decade.

I’ve always been a problem solver. Whether it’s a broken gadget or a tricky brief, my instinct is to fix it. Great design is problem-solving in visual form, finding creative solutions that work beautifully and function flawlessly.

I still love the process of creating, watching an idea take shape from rough concept to polished piece. Sure, there are frustrations (show me a designer who says otherwise, and I’ll show you someone in denial), but the payoff – seeing it all come together – is always worth it.

Technology and the way we use it keeps on evolving. So there’s always something new to learn, new skills to sharpen, and new tools to try. I’m curious to see how far tech will push our industry, and where it’ll take us next. That curiosity, along with the drive to make great work, is what keeps me going.

As much as some things have changed, some things stay the same. My passion for typography has always been a driving force in my journey as a designer. The changing styles, trends and technical capabilities around us have created an environment where typography has thrived, and transformed, even as the channels, media and expectations have moved on.

The changing face of typography

Typography has had a glow-up over the past decade. We’ve embraced responsive design, custom typefaces, and bolder, more colourful styles, still with clarity and simplicity front and centre. The rise of web fonts, variable fonts, and flexible design systems have given us even more freedom to adapt type to any screen or platform without losing the personality it can generate.

Digital media has been the big game-changer. The demand for legibility and accessibility has pushed sans-serif styles – especially geometric ones – into the spotlight. At the same time, tech innovations like the Web Open Font Format (WOFF) have opened the door to a wider range of expressive, high-performance typefaces online. The result? Designers can now balance beauty and functionality in ways that weren’t possible a decade ago.

Once upon a time, TV gave you three or four channels – now you can scroll endlessly through a hundred others. The hardest part now is deciding what to watch. Fonts are the same: the choice is now infinite. The world really is your typographic oyster.

Still, despite this endless font buffet, we humans love our comfort zones. When it comes to TV, my household – like many – sticks mostly to Netflix, Prime, and Disney. You know what you’re getting. Safe, reliable. Can’t go wrong… right? Well, the same goes for fonts.

My type of font

Certain typefaces have become steady favourites that dominate the last decade, blending timeless classic lines with a fresh modern feel. Here’s my lineup of top fonts right now.

From the shiny newcomers to the tried-and-true veterans, these fonts have carved out their space in the past decade, proving that good design isn’t about chasing every new trend – it’s about finding the right fit for the job.

From the shiny newcomers to the tried-and-true veterans, these fonts have carved out their space in the past decade, proving that good design isn’t about chasing every new trend – it’s about finding the right fit for the job.

We’re having a TypeFace/Off

At Spiral, we love nothing more than a good challenge. And since I’m the resident font fanatic (not the only one, I hasten to add), it only seemed right to kick off a series of mini creative showdowns themed entirely around typography – welcome to our TypeFace/Off.

There’s no grand prize, no high-stakes judging panel – just a way to get the creative cogs whirring during downtime and have a bit of fun in the process. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing some of the best (and quirkiest) results, and for anyone who feels inspired, we’ll throw the door wide open for you to join in.

Face it – life’s too short for boring type.