With the desktop publishing revolution of the 1980s, typographic design came within the reach of anyone with a home computer. Since that time, we have seen a boom in the production of new fonts. This book takes stock of what was achieved during this protean period. Smeijers, a first-generation digital type designer, knows the possibilities of computer technology, but nevertheless argues for the continuing validity of the traditional skills of drawing and shape-making. He suggests that the trends of the recent past are already exhausted. As new industry standards are introduced, font design must again become a job for engineers rather than self-trained designers. The book concludes that the number of new fonts being introduced must be reduced, and it ends with a proposal for a new "moral code" for type designers.
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Robin Kinross is Publisher of Hyphen Press. He lives in London.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
About Smeijers, not about type,
By wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Type Now: A Manifesto (Paperback)
I do not doubt Smeijers' importance in the type world. This book is divided into a few sections describing the man and his work. The first is a longish essay on type, computers, education, and whatever else came to mind. It ends with "A code of conduct," guidelines for ethical practice, mostly applicable to anyone in any creative pursuit. There's a brief glossary, possibly too brief to answer more than cursory questions.
I very much like the next section. It's more or less of a Smeijers specimen book and portfolio. Each font is demonstrated in a full piece of readable text, not just quick brown foxes. That really gives me the feel of the font, as I would experience it in normal reading - something I wish I could see more often. Best, the text chosen is a brief essay written by Christopher Plantin in the 17th century, material of interest in itself. Next, there's an annotated gallery a few pages long, academic and commerical work, and the book ends with a brief time-line of Smeijers' career. Still, I was looking for something that would teach me more about type, letters, typography, or other aspects of design. Instead, the book teaches me about Smeijers. Thus, my disappointment in the book and a rating lower than another reader might give. //wiredweird
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Type Now - a very stimulating read.,
By Michelle Guy (Germany) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Type Now: A Manifesto (Paperback)
Published with the occasion of second Gerrit Noordzij Prize awarded to Smeijers, this book addresses sensitive topics for type design, such as copyright, originality and talent. As its subtitle shows, it is meant as a manifesto, followed by a showcase section, which features Smeijers' type designs to date and his commercial work for manufacturers like Philips and Canon.
Smeijers is a brilliant type designer and outspoken educator and this book confirms that. A very stimulating read!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
