CategoryFonts

April 17, 2013 — Everyone knows their serifs and sans, slabs and scripts, but most classifications go much deeper than that. Type classification, while helpful, is often convoluted, confusing and even controversial. This article, distilling some of the complexities into a more understandable format, lands somewhere in the middle between the basics and genuine type nerdery — the perfect level for a practicing designer. Read more…

February 28, 2013 — The word on the street is that the Web Is 95% Typography, so as we hurtle towards the future, we think there’s still a lot we can learn from five centuries of history. Typeplate, a free-range and open-source typographic starter kit, is the result of this exploration of our typographic heritage. Read more…

February 26, 2013 — Layout, for both print and screen, is one of the most important aspects of graphic design. Designs that extend across multiple pages or screens, whether containing large or small amounts of type, must be carefully controlled in a way that is enticing and is easy for all to access. Read more…

February 18, 2013 — Typography is reclaiming its title as design queen, ruler of all graphic and web design. In this article, Marko Dugonjić teaches us how to make sure our text is as legible as possible when seen in the virtually limitless combination of variables such as space, time, cognition, social conditions and physical conditions. Read more…

February 12, 2013 — David Březina always wondered, “What is it that makes a typeface or any other design good?”. In this article, he will try to give you a condensed recipe on how to approach typefaces critically and perhaps even ruthlessly. Read more…

January 17, 2013 — Lettering and typography, so similar yet so diverse, are a huge part of design and thus deserve our full understanding. Read more…

December 8, 2012 — We published the article “Why Won’t Helvetica Go Away” in which Alastair Johnston discussed the evolution of Helvetica, the reasons for its popularity as well as his thoughts on why designers should start questioning the usefulness of Helvetica in their projects. Hours later Indra Kupferschmid published an article in which she corrected some of the facts presented in the original article. We republish Indra’s article to correct the factual errors, with her permission of course. Read more…

December 7, 2012 — Most typeface designs are the result of fashion or changes in taste; some are technologically driven. For Helvetica, an explanation of its history helps to explain its longevity. Read more…

November 2, 2012 — In the 18th century, cast-iron bridges sprang across British rivers such as the Tay and Severn. These lovely sculptural archways are resistant to rust, so many are still standing. What are “Industrial-strength types”? In this article Alastair Johnston explores them. Read more…

September 20, 2012 — Anne Brady offers an insight into the creative thought processes she followed in designing a typographic solution for the Garda Memorial Garden. She discusses her choice of typeface, the detailed layout, the size of type, the materials, and more. Read more…