the Typography
What’s All This About Web Typography?
It seems like everyone these days is talking about web typography. I don't blame them. With the now almost universal support for @font-face in every major browser (yes, even IE), we will now have access to one of the most sought-after features we've always wanted — the ability to use non-system fonts in our websites. No more will designers be limited to Georgia, Arial, Tahoma and those other system fonts.
But, as they say, when one problem is solved another steps up to take its place. In this case its licensing restrictions for some fonts. The problem in a nutshell: foundries make awesome fonts. They sell those fonts to us — designers — and in turn we use @font-face to put those fonts on web pages. But when we do that we often break the licensing rights that come along with those fonts since putting them on the web is just like distributing them. Just as you can download an image from the web, so to would you be able to download the font. Until those fonts can be protected, designers won't take the risk. Continue reading…
Walt Whitman is Cooler Than You
New illustration with a focus on typography for a change. Iphone wallpaper. Poem. Walt Whitman. Yeah.
The official title is "Walt Whitman Wears Shades" as you'll see why if you look at the image. The featured poem, called A Clear Midnight, was part of the compilation Leaves of Grass from 1900.
I wanted to do an exercise with typography and this is what happened. Just maybe I'll get a poster printed of this sometime. Oh, and the typeface is Lucida Std if any typophiles out there are interested. Enjoy.
ABC3D
Check it. Typography and 3D combine in book form in this dope video (with a great tune by The Boswell Sisters too)!
A Photographic Alphabet
I like type. Even more, I like type when it's used in non-standard ways or found in unlikely places. So when I gandered at this amazing project called Type in the Sky from Lisa Rienermann I took notice. I'm not sure where I can buy the book as the website seems to be in German but if anyone knows where I can grab one or if you know German please shoot me a line. Till then check it out and support your local typographer.
Helvetica: The Movie
About a week ago I excitedly put this movie on my Netflix queue. Yes I know its about a typeface.Yes its a documentary. And no, it wasn't boring. It was awesome. Emphasis on awesome. It may sound boring, but for a designer it is far from it. After a few days of sitting by my TV I finally popped it in and was extremely satisfied. A great film. Great. Maybe a little long, but great. Continue reading…
The Logo That Didn't Make It
Awhile ago I did this logo for a video production company. This is the version they didn't like. I'd thought I'd share. Continue reading…
World War 2 Poster Nostalgia
Today I came upon a site that serves as a database/repository for old World War II-era propaganda/war effort posters.
The Government and Geographic Information and Data Services Department at Northwestern University Library has a comprehensive collection of over 300 posters issued by U.S. Federal agencies from the onset of war through 1945.
Helvetica – Happy Birthday
Helvetica, a font that says clean, bland, natural, corporate, boring and amazing all at the same time, is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. I'm a bit of a closet type lover, but I wanted to write a post about this amazing font just the same.
Designed in 1957 by Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann in Muenchenstein, Switzerland, Helvetica quickly became the typeface used by designers and corporations alike and in the process has spawned many copies and quick knockoffs. Arial is the best know copy, popularized first by Microsoft in Windows 3.1. Arial's use has grown in popularity with very Windows version since and has even eclipsed Helvetica in use. A few of the better Helvetica homages are Neue Helvetica and Coolvetica. Continue reading…
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