Sprout: A Contemporary Sans Serif Grown With The Northern Block The Northern Block is a design studio in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Established by Jonathan Hill 12 years ago, the studio is one that prizes a strong sense of individuality that's equally balanced with teamwork. Jonathan found influence in The Designers Republic because of the way they stand apart from other studios among the London design scene. Their familiar use of the phrase, "North Of Nowhere," was an inspiration that he intermingled with his own variation of "the Eastern Bloc," and