Aaron Bell

Currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia, I work at Zeros2Heroes as a “Front-End Engineer”, which means I build websites. As the sole front-end web developer, I am responsible for the HTML & CSS code for the sites that we put online. However, I’m somewhat of the local “jack-of-all-trades” and have also been called in on numerous occasions to help with all sorts of tasks across the production pipeline. These tasks have included project management, graphic design, interaction design, copy editing and more. I have been lucky to work at a company where I’ve been able to be involved across the board and gain experience in the entire process.

Although web development is my primary responsibility at work, my real passion is in typography and type design. Since my time as a student at the Vancouver Film School, I was interested in print, typography and visual layout, but unfortunately didn’t have the chance to explore as much as I would have liked due to the nature of the program.

Instead, I’ve had to strike out on my own to pursue my interests. In the summer of 2009, I took a class in Letterpress printing, desirous to get experience with typesetting by hand. Then, I attended Type Camp Galiano later in the summer, delving headlong into type design and thought. Continuing my studies in typography at Langara University, I am looking forward to attending grad school in the coming years and truly becoming a typographer.

Other areas of creative interest for me are in music and photography, both of which I’ve done since a young age. Over the years I’ve learned to play the trumpet, french horn, noh flute, and guitar — though I’m still working on that last one. I also had the pleasure of singing in a choir for a time and would like to get back into it, if I can find the time. Photography dates back to my first, completely manual Nikomat camera, taking photos in black & white. I find that taking pictures helps me see the world in new ways and keep my eyes open to my surroundings.

Besides all of that, I am a distance cyclist and historical fencer & swordsman.

Feel free to follow along with my various adventures and if you’d like, send me a message or leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you!