Project Overview
We are building an archive of old advertisements. These materials are being carefully reconstructed so they can be printed at large scale (up to 24 × 36 inches) while remaining historically faithful.
This isn’t a modern redesign or a “vintage-style” project. It is a typographic and graphic reconstruction project.
What You’ll Be Doing
• Working from provided clean raster reference scans of old ads.
• Re-typing and reconstructing layouts in Adobe Illustrator (not auto-tracing text)
• Preserving original:
• spacing
• hierarchy
• abbreviations
• alignment quirks
• Preparing scalable, print-ready vector artwork
• Using controlled ink tone (near-black, not pure black)
• Keeping type live and editable (no outlining unless requested)
Some pieces are type-only (directory pages); others include simple illustrations or borders.
If your instinct is to “clean things up nicely,” this project is probably not a fit.
Required Skills
• Strong experience with Adobe Illustrator
• Excellent typographic sensitivity
• Comfort re-setting text manually rather than tracing
• Understanding of historical print behavior (letterpress, ink density, spacing)
• Ability to work carefully from visual reference
• Willingness to ask questions instead of guessing
Nice to Have (but not required)
• Background in book design, editorial design, or archival work
• Experience with historical or non-english languages
• Familiarity with preparing files for fine art / poster printing
Deliverables
For each piece:
• Adobe Illustrator (.ai) file
• All type live and editable
• Clearly labeled layers
• Print-ready PDF (size specified per piece)
Time & Compensation
• Paid hourly to start
• Typical pieces range from:
• ~30–90 minutes (type-only pages)
• ~1–3 hours (ads with simple illustration)
• Long-term collaboration possible for the right fit
To Apply
Please include:
1. A short note on how you approach historical typography
2. An example or two of work where restraint and typographic judgment mattered
3. Confirmation that you do not rely on auto-trace for text
Apply Now
Apply Now