Introduction
When we started this project, to explore typography and present what we learned in a format that others could learn from, it was out of a thirst for knowledge and a desire to explore unknown design territory. Three designers and artists whose curiosities had not been satisfied by traditional institutional education, we had some knowledge of typography, its usage and its general principles, but what we uncovered was a wealth of knowledge, history, opinions, excerpts, rules and ex- ploitations that even Harrison Ford couldn’t have made it out of the temple with. Unabashed by the amount of websites, RSS feeds, email lists, books, periodicals, articles and texts that unfurled we dug our teeth in and said, “Bring it.”
After nearly two years of research and discussion, the answer is simply complex. Typography is a constantly evolving practice of using type as a tool of communication. To truly understand typography we have learned that there are several fundamental areas of which a basic knowledge is required. First are the general rules in relation to the practice of what good typography is considered to be. Much like Neo and the spoon, once the rules are understood they can, of course, be bent.
After nearly two years of research and discussion, the answer is simply complex. Typography is a constantly evolving practice of using type as a tool of communication. To truly understand typography we have learned that there are several fundamental areas of which a basic knowledge is required. First are the general rules in relation to the practice of what good typography is considered to be. Much like Neo and the spoon, once the rules are understood they can, of course, be bent.
Second, it is vastly important to understand how typography has developed and who has helped it develop along the way. Finally, as a modern designer it is important to know who else is out there and how they are manipulating letters as a form of communication.
After all that, after the hundreds of books, the massive late fees at the library, the overflowing RSS readers and the exhausted eyeballs we are of the opinion that only the surface has been explored. We realized along the way that we would need to sift through the piles of information in order to find the pertinent bits and summarize it in order to educate a broader audience. What you find in the pages following is a brief summation of what we have found the most inspirational in our quest for knowledge. A study of the Execution of typography, an Exploration of typographers and the typefaces they developed, and a summation of modern typographic Experimentation.
After all that, after the hundreds of books, the massive late fees at the library, the overflowing RSS readers and the exhausted eyeballs we are of the opinion that only the surface has been explored. We realized along the way that we would need to sift through the piles of information in order to find the pertinent bits and summarize it in order to educate a broader audience. What you find in the pages following is a brief summation of what we have found the most inspirational in our quest for knowledge. A study of the Execution of typography, an Exploration of typographers and the typefaces they developed, and a summation of modern typographic Experimentation.