I have long complained about signage systems in Germany and the locals never believe me. I think this story backs up my claim:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6705323.stm

There’s always something fun — though sometimes plain wierd — and interesting to read on the BBC news website. Among the latest:

“Condoms ‘too big’ for Indian men”

“Sudan man forced to ‘marry’ goat”

“Sudan’s famous goat ‘wife’ dies”

“Snake bursts after gobbling gator”

P.S. My quotes are acting funny but I’m not sure why…

What were you thinking? | No Comments »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6696503.stm

Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

For those who are interested, these are posts that discuss them:

http:blogs.msdn.com/fontblog/archive/2005/10/28/486511.aspx

http:blogs.msdn.com/fontblog/archive/2005/12/13/503236.aspx

Legibility research | No Comments »

It is official. I hate spam. Such a waste of time, and it actually polutes both cyber and real environments. Just make it stop! My mail clients nicely weeds out all the spam but I have to put up with it in the comments section on this blog and it’s really getting tedious. So, I’m starting a new t-shirt campaign against spam (not that I expect any less spam out of it, but merely to vent my anger). It’s free to download and it has yellow, just to show that we mean business.

Download for free here: stop_spamming.pdf

Uncategorized | No Comments »

Interesting article on the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6669569.stm

Uncategorized | No Comments »

My cat has mastered a significant part of the alphabet and has her own repertoire of words and sentances. For example:

- miaw: feed me

- mnaw: where have you been? feed me now!
- mnaa: i’m really hungry

More »

Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

So TypoTechnica was a blast! Below are some pictures.

Meeting on Thursday night. Picture by Carolyn. In the pictures from left to right: Thomas Caldwell, me, Miguel Sousa, and Frank Blokland.

Hermann Zapf chatting with Christian Schwartz, Miguel Sousa, and me.

Linotype colleagues with the TypoTechnica speakers and the guests from the press. I’m the one at the front. There’s lots of pictures on Flickr.com with the tag TypoTechnica and 2007: http://flickr.com/search/?q=typotechnica+2007&page=10

Events | 1 Comment »

I’ve been asked to post this:

Last call for entries to a greek typeface design contest-exhibition
New extended deadline: 31st of May

In order to capture current trends in the design of greek alphabets, the 3rd International Conference on Typography and Visual Communication (http://ictvc.org/)and backpacker (http://www.backpacker.gr/) invite greek and foreign type designers to participate in a typographic exhibition, where the “greek alphabet” (εα) is the leading actor.

More »

Events | 2 Comments »

So today was not like any other day at work. The 50th birthday for Helvetica has spurred lots of interest in type and typography and it seems that we have finally migrated ino mainstream news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6638423.stm

The article talks about Helvetica and today it made headline news on the BBC News website which is a pioneering and very well respected news source. It is wonderful that Helvetica gets this coverage, but I’m also quite thrilled as I was interviewed for this piece and am quoted in it. This is super cool, especially that BBC is my main news source. It’s like being called to the mothership…

The article is also on the most emailed list. Could it be that the public is getting to be more aware about type design and the importance of type in our lives? Fingers crossed…

Articles, Events, Links | 2 Comments »

I have been asked how to create Arabic letterforms so here is my recommendation:

1. Get acquainted with Arabic calligraphic styles (dig deep, not just the Aqlam Assita) and the specifics of the script
2. Practice with a reed (or slit pen or any other appropriate tool) the effect of the angle of the cut and the way the pen is held on the resulting shape. Trace the same skeletal structure with different angles. This creates an understanding of the axis and distribution of the thicks and thins.

3. Read about printing history, so as to understand the reasons why current Arabic typefaces look the way they do.

4. Read about current font technology (see my font development section)

5. Get acquainted with the Arabic market to see what is popular, what is needed, what is visually acceptable, what each style carries in implications etc.

6. Read or browse through everything you come across in your research

7. Look at good typefaces for an understanding of how a typographic system of characters works. This is quite crucial as there are things you would do in calligraphy that you would not do in type design.

8. Learn about optical adjustments and visual compensation

9. Investigate spacing, kerning, rhythm, color etc (learning about Latin type design is helpful in such cases)

10. Test your design. This is very important!

In short, I would suggest independent research about the script for 2 years, and then joining the MA program at Reading. It’s lots of fun. If anyone goes to Reading, I also recommend the Katmandu Kitchen (Indian restaurant) near Christchurch roundabout.

Arabic fonts | 4 Comments »