Explore 8-bit typography by Jude Buffum

The 8-bit typography in this collection is all hand crafted. Rather than use an off-the-shelf pixel font, Jude builds each letterform on the grid to suit the piece, an approach that comes from his background in graphic design and art direction. Treating type as part of the illustration rather than an element placed beside it lets the lettering and artwork read as a unified whole, resolving a problem art directors face when combining pixel art with conventional typography.

8-bit typography and pixel art by illustrator Jude Buffum that says Retro Gaming Today, for an article about the comeback of classic video games

Editorial and Cover Typography

In editorial work, the lettering and illustration are designed together, with the typography often central to the concept. On a magazine cover, an article header, or a book, custom 8-bit type sets a retro or gaming tone the moment it's seen.

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration of a fictitious video game for an article on The Verge about said game, by illustrator Jude Buffum

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration by illustrator Jude Buffum for the cover of And Then You Die of Dysentery, a humorous book about the Oregon Trail video game

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration of an arcade cabinet whose title is Best of the City, for the cover of Cincinnati Magazine, by illustrator Jude Buffum

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration of a book whose title is Never Read the Comments, by illustrator Jude Buffum

Packaging and Product Typography

On packaging, 8-bit type has to do more than label a product; it signals a brand's retro or gaming intent the moment it reaches the shelf. For established properties, that can mean translating a familiar logo into pixels, which is a craft unto itself.

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration for a Happy Birthday gift card for Target, by illustrator Jude Buffum

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration for a Graduation gift card for Target, by illustrator Jude Buffum

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration by illustrator Jude Buffum for the Very Mega beer for Yards Brewing Company

Typographic treatment for Hasbro Marvel Legends Gamerverse, featuring pixel art versions of Captain America and Venom logos in a 90s arcade style by Jude Buffum.

Packaging design for Hasbro Marvel Legends Gamerverse, featuring a pixel art illustration of Captain America, Venom, Wolverine, and Silver Samurai in a 90s arcade style portraits by Jude Buffum.

Logos and Wordmarks

Designing a pixel art-style logo requires both conceptual thinking and typographic training, which many pixel artists lack. That skill set applies whether Jude is building an original wordmark from scratch or reinterpreting an established brand in 8-bit.

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration for the title screen of Rexy's Holiday Race, a video game created for Coach by illustrator Jude Buffum

8-bit typography and pixel art illustration of three kids from Star Wars Skeleton Crew on hover bikes, by illustrator Jude Buffum

Game Titles and UI

A game's title screen sets the tone before play begins, so its lettering has to feel as authentic as the era it draws from. Whether for a fully playable branded game or a social-media campaign, the type works as part of the interface rather than a standalone headline. It's one piece of a broader game asset practice that also covers sprites, environments, and UI.

Pixel art arcade title screen for PB Rush, featuring 8-bit typography and Formula One racing car

Animated pixel art title screen for "Flip a Truck with Braun Strowman" featuring wrestler Braun Strowman's face, bold 8-bit typography, and a retro-style instruction to "Tap rapidly to cause destruction!"

Pixel art title screen for Adult Swim's Hot Streets: Chubbie in Troubie video game featuring 8-bit typography, 3 small pixel art faces of human characters, and one giant pixel art illustration of a angry, red anthropomorphic dog

Pixel art title screen with 8-bit typography reading "Rexy's Holiday Race," designed for a branded Coach video game by illustrator Jude Buffum.

Fictional Postcards

This series began as personal work for a gallery show: postcards for fictional video-game destinations, in the tradition of classic large-letter travel postcards where the type and the imagery are inseparable. That fusion of letterform and illustration is Jude's signature strength, and the ideas he developed here went on to shape much of the commercial work throughout this collection.