Phylum is a slightly irregular text and display family contemplating ecological horrors of our time, and inspired by walks through old-growth forests of Washington State. Phylum was conceptualized on one of these said forest walks, through a desire to combine calligraphic exploration with scientific observation. Drawing heavily upon experimentation with the broad nib pen, its ornate details originate from the intricacies of blackletter, while the overall proportions retain a humanistic quality.

Observing the natural world was key to Phylum's genesis – lichens, mosses, and slime molds of old-growth forests directly informed its formal characteristics. This is most clearly demonstrated through the wild display face, which ranges from mild to extreme growth styles, branching in strange fractal-like patterns commonly seen in nature. These branches retain a calligraphic quality to achieve some sense of formal cohesion between Phylum's text and display faces.

The highly calligraphic text face harbors many small details. During the formal exploration process, the idea of "typographic dirt" was explored to further tie this type to the land it was sown from. Heavy foot and entrance serifs were applied to achieve a gritty texture at small sizes. Much like the natural world, the closer you look into Phylum, the more that will be revealed to you.

Phylum holds in juxtaposition the wonders of the natural world, and the horrors which threaten to destroy it. Time spent walking in the dense wood brings an inner calmness; subsequently a sense of urgency to act, and to save these safe havens from demise. Phylum presents itself as a moment of contemplation in this time of delicate balance.