BLAG 07: An Invitation to Contribute

Issue 07 of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) will celebrate 50 years of the Letterheads movement—think all your regular BLAG content, but with an IOAFS twist. The magazine will be published in time for the anniversary meet at the American Sign Museum, 20–22 June 2025.

The issue is already taking shape, and you are invited to contribute to some of the planned features and articles, as detailed below.

I will keep this page updated as the project progresses, and will also issue periodic news via the free mailing list, including details of the meet itself when the programme and tickets are released.

Joing the Mailing List

Contribute to BLAG 07

The four main areas that you are invited to contribute to are as follows. If you are interested in developing a specific article or feature beyond these then please let me know via sam@bl.ag.

  1. The Motto Translated
  2. IOAFS / Letterheads 50 Panels
  3. Memories, Panels, and Photos
  4. Hosting Advice

The Motto Translated

The movement is truly international now. To reflect this, I want to see the motto translated into as many of the world's languages as possible, with the corresponding acronyms as lettered panels. The brief is:

  • Produce a panel with the acronym* in your language. There are no size/dimension requirements, and the inclusion of the full translation as secondary copy is optional.
  • Send photos of the panel to sam@bl.ag, including your name, website/instagram, and the full translation in your language. The photos should be of print quality, so best is 300 dpi and at least 2,000 px wide. Work-in-progress shots are also welcome.

*IOAFS (It's Only A Fucking Sign), which has two meanings: to not take your sign work too seriously, and to remain humble if you ever start thinking you're a big shot. Keith Knecht says it best in Sign Painters; watch from from 49:13.

The deadline for translated IOAFS submissions is Friday, 31 January. Only photos received on or before this date will be considered for inclusion.
IOAFS panel by Studio Molu for Lockdown Letterheads.

IOAFS / Letterheads 50 Panels

I'd also like to include regular IOAFS panels, and those created to celebrate the 50th anniversary. Again, these need to be photographed at print resolution (see above) and sent to sam@bl.ag on or before Friday, 31 January.

Memories, Panels, and Photos

One of the features will look back on the movement's evolution over the last five decades. Your (selected) photos, memories, panels, and perspective on the personal impact of the movement will be really useful in developing this, so please email them to sam@bl.ag.

The deadline for sharing photos and memories is Friday, 10 January, to allow time for them to be worked into the feature.
The seven original Letterheads, Denver 1985. From left: Bob Mitchell, Mark Oatis, John Frazier, Mike Rielley, Noel Weber, Earl Vehill, Rick Flores. (The women are currently unidentified.)

Hosting Advice

There will be an article that condenses the wisdom and experience from those that have hosted meets, large and small, over the years. It will outline the essential requirements and considerations, what to avoid, and lessons learned from taking on this responsibility of carrying the movement forward.

The form below (also available here) allows you to share your Letterheads hosting experience, and the deadline for input is Friday, 10 January.

Complete the Form