I thought, once, that it would be a good idea to document the progress of my typeface development. It has since evolved into a traveller's log, I gather. Are we headed the same way, stranger …?
July, 2005
Was in New York and Seattle. Met many people from the type industry. A few of them made sense.
May 16, 2005
I've started recreating the resources page from scratch.
May 15, 2005
I came by to see the fuzz at DGH at around 3 o'clock, just in time to catch Jeremy Tankard's talk on … well, mostly his Aspect typeface. No, I didn't pay for entrance, but I was waved in by some person as I was walking by.
The talk was boring. I think I used half of the time looking over a girl's shoulder as she was copying some lettershape designs from Jeremy's presentation. To my distress she didn't copy anything I liked. That is, if there was anything I liked, and I'm not sure about that.
Because I had to pick up a couple of computer parts at a storehouse that day, I had to leave after that. I was hoping I would manage to come back at around 5, but when I got my stuff and arrived at the central station, I gathered I'll make it to DGH halv an hour late and decided not to go. This was unfortunate, as I wanted to ask Jeremy and Henrik Birkvig a few questions … Nothing very import, but, you know. I wish I could be there.
Bukva:raz! exhibition wasn't particulary interesting either. If you've looked inside Language Culture Type you've seen all there is to see.
Hmm, what was the other thing I wanted to say? Ah, yes. One of the things I picked up was a mouse. A small correction: a computer mouse. My old mouse had a failing primary button that I tried to fix at some point. I believe quite a few Logitech mice have this problem if you play FPS games, which is something I used to do a couple of years ago when I bought it. The problem resurfaced not so long after and I've been living many months with an irritating mouse. Until now, that is.
There is, of course, a reason why I'm writing about it here. The old mouse didn't make my typeface developement a particularly enjoyable endeavour. So, my laziness isn't the only reason why I … well, it is.
Last thing I want to note is my economic situation. I wrote in my first entry of this year that I was looking for a job. I've got a job and no longer need more money than I'm already getting. It's not a typographic job, but I like it and I don't want to exchange it for a typographic one.
I prefer to work on typographic aspects that interest me without anyone owing me anything. I don't know who would want to bother with me, so I'm saying this just in case: Time permitting, I'm willing to take on outside work without any charge.
I'm sorry, there is something I almost forgot. Jeremy's talk wasn't completely boring. He said exactly one interesting thing that I wanted to remember. As an independent typeface designer who lives only by means of developing (new) typefaces, you have to be careful not to outdo yourself designing a typeface for Microsoft's operating system. Once it's shipped you'll practically be getting yourself out of business. I don't have a direct quote, but this is how I understood it.
While he's basically correct, I was sad to hear him say it. I disliked the way he said it — as it was okay to sell out. It's okay in the sense that it's unavoidable, but he came across as too self-centered to me. I don't mind this — not when it disfavours the Microsoft Empire — but I cannot help my feelings.
May 4, 2005
This spring has been largly uninspiring for me. I haven't touched my typeface since the last update here. However, I've discovered the library at Den Grafiske Højskole (DGH), an institute which isn't completely unknown to the international typographers, where I have had a chance to borrow some books.
Speaking of DGH, it will have a conference on corporate type on 12. May, which I don't plan to attend because it's too expensive for me. I do have the money, but I don't think it's worth 350 American dollars. But I'll likely pop up there at around 17 o'clock to look around at some of the faces, Lucas de Groot in particular, and to see the old bukva:raz! exhibition which is free to attend. I want to ask Lucas how much Microsoft paid him for his Longhorn typefaces.
Which brings me to the Language Culture Type book that I borrowed there. Being busy at the time I had to return it before I got to read through it, but I had gotten the feeling of it and will borrow it again at some point in the future, or perhaps even buy it. So I'll wait with it's review.
Other books I've held in my hands in the last couple of month include CJKV Information Processing and Typographers on Type, which I didn't finish either, but both of which I wish to return to at a later point. In addition, I've read two of Hermann Zapf's books that I review here. Both books have made me appreciate his work more.
Typographische Variationen by Hermann Zapf. This is a book of book covers (for the most part). Some of them I liked (see the picture on the right), while others I didn't. It's a mixed bag, so there should be something for everyone, if one wants to get inspired.
About Alphabets – Some Marginal Notes on Type Design by Hermann Zapf. The title is misleading I think — the book is an autobiography telling the story of Hermann's typographic endeavours up to 1960. For someone like me, who has shied away from stalking worshipping the different legends, this is probably a good start.
Apart from the content, I think the book is a good example of book design I myself enjoy and prefer. It just feels good to have it in my hands, unlike, say Language Culture Type which, of course, doesn't serve the same purpose, but still.
January 26, 2005
I found a typographic error reading a Danish translation of Szymborska. I think it's cute.
January 24, 2005
Handwriting of the Twentieth Century by Rosemary Sassoon. Forced, boring, and the text type is too damn big.
January 9, 2005 - Books (and lack of money)
I think I'll make a section with brief book “reviews.” For now I'll have them here because I'm in a hurry to forget these books. I hope something better will fall down from the sky soon.
Stop Stealing Sheep (& find out how type works) by Erik Spiekermann. Didn't get the title, didn't get the humour, didn't get the message. I did get an impression, though, and it's not a very pleasant one.
Making Digital Type Look Good by Bob Gordon. Pointless junk. (Perhaps the book is just not for me.)
PANTONE Guide to Communicating with Color by Leatice Eiseman. Too little real content. I did, however, like a few pages with colour combinations which I scanned in case I'd want to use them in the future.
I would like to write about other things I've been up to in the last couple of months, but I guess I'll have to postpone that once again. I even had a dream with Gerard Unger in it not long time ago, so don't think I've been slacking just because I haven't updated this place since September.
Anyway, I'm looking for a job … any kind of job, really. I need money. If you think I could be of any use to you (or someone you know), please help me.
I have finished the basic uppacase set of letters of my sans-serif typeface to the point were I wouldn't mind seeing it used in public. I still consider it a draft, though. I was going to release it so people could at least use it for titling if they wanted to, but I'm really slow about making it actually happen … So, here is a screenshot and the font file (11 KB). Any comments are welcome, but keep in mind that no plans were for the typeface to be original. If you want the source, simply ask.
I don't claim or disclaim ownership of and copyright on anything you have access to here. Apply your own restrictions to your own life. Just don't be a hypocrite, okay?
The resources section is really out of date …
