The Ten Commandments of Typography/Type Heresy: Breaking the Ten Commandments of Typography [Hardcover]

Paul Felton (Author), Jonathan Barnbrook (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

A humorous and incisive analysis of the basic tenets of typography and how to turn them on their heads, this book will appeal to the conformist and the non-conformist in everyone - not just the newcomer to design. One side of this sharp-witted, cleverly designed guide presents the ten main rules, or 'commandments', of type design, addressing such aspects of typographic doctrine as legibility, alignment and capitalization; the other shows how type can successfully subvert these rules, presenting 'sacreligious' visual alternatives. In support of the commandments, Felton includes a list of twelve 'disciples', those internationally renowned graphic designers whom he identifies as rule-abiding, including such figures as Eric Gill, Jan Tschichold and Erik Spiekermann. Confronting these are his 'fallen angels', including such experimental typographers as David Carson, Jeffery Keedy, Phil Baines, and Jonathan Barnbrook.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A humorous and incisive analysis - this book will appeal to the conformist and non-conformist in everyone - RIBA BOOKSHOPS NEWSLETTER

About the Author

Paul Felton is a graphic designer specializing in typography. In 2005 he won a D&AD Best New Blood Award for this book and for his recent design work

Product Details

• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: Merrell Publishers (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858943558
• ISBN-13: 978-1858943558
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good concept, poor execution, December 30, 2006

By 

Rob Weychert (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ten Commandments of Typography/Type Heresy: Breaking the Ten Commandments of Typography (Hardcover)

This could be a great book if it bothered to go into any actual detail or offer any really compelling arguments for or against abiding by typographic principles. Instead, it offers two equally under-developed halves. The first half gives us the ten "commandments," several of which are typographically context-specific, and each of which has barely a sentence of explanation or justification for why it should be followed. The second half of the book supposedly describes how, when, and why designers should have license to break the aforementioned commandments. Particularly over the last twenty years, there have been many interesting and valid arguments for the use of uniquely expressive typography that breaks the rules, but the best this book can muster is a plea to readers to be willing to put more effort into reading so that we designers can have more "fun."

I was very disappointed with this book. It might have been an okay thesis project for a BFA in design, but that doesn't make it worthy of publishing. I walked away from it no more enlightened or inspired than I was before. At least it wasn't a waste of too much time -- the book can be fully absorbed in under thirty minutes.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique, unusual, and enthusiastically recommended contribution, November 4, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ten Commandments of Typography/Type Heresy: Breaking the Ten Commandments of Typography (Hardcover)

Following the Biblical commandments (which could possibly offend the very religious) is a text outlining the basic foundation rules of typographic usage, starting with 'In the Beginning God created type' and juxtaposing examples of different type throughout. The religious and type theme blends throughout in a series of lively examples of rules and options, making "The Ten commandments of Typography" a unique, unusual, and enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, professional, and academic library reference collections.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional and whitty...., January 21, 2007

By 

Merrick Shawn Henry "Blk Demon" (Savannah, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ten Commandments of Typography/Type Heresy: Breaking the Ten Commandments of Typography (Hardcover)

This little book is great for classroom discussions. The basis principle of typography is covered and the basis principles of breaking those rules are mention. Using biblical phrases are a excellent and engaging method for students and designers to understand.