FontShop's Top Ten

FontShop has finally released their Top Ten Typefaces for 2007 list. They've got a good list going, and I'm not really surprised (nor disappointed) to see Meta Serif in the list even though it was just recently released in November. They also have a few distressed typefaces from Rian Hughes' Device studio, of whom I'm a fan despite my reluctance to use any typeface designed as distressed (similar to handwriting fonts, a distressed letter will always look the same when it shouldn't - I prefer to use regular typefaces and distress the design using Machine Wash filters from Mister Retro).

Stefan Hattenbach's Anziano (of MAC Rhino Fonts) got a spot on the list even though it comes in as number eleven (so does it count?). Anziano is a great lookin' typeface (you can download small caps for free) but I prefer his Oxtail set:



I had a brief encounter with Stefan from the Typophile forums a few months ago. He's a nice guy and fairly considerate, which goes a long way. He also has four typefaces available for free at his website. Go wild.

Michael Bierut talks about type

I found this little gem on Quips yesterday, (via Typographica). This is my preferred method for receiving information from someone else, if engaging in a conversation with them is not an option. Printed articles and interviews are fine fodder when that's all one can have, however live action videos are most fantastical.

This is a good time to also look at the Hillman Curtis videos. Great discussions with several notable designers.

I love the internet.

Hubba Hubba, Meta Serif

This is one post that I've been itching to make. I became a very large fan of the FF Meta typeface when doing some extensive research for a recent project. For a sans serif, Meta offers impressive readability for body/text copy. So when I heard that there was work on a serif version, I drooled.

And now, just recently, it's here: FF Meta Serif. The FontFeed is keeping track of some of the reactions across the inter-web regarding the release.

On Slant Six Creative, Armin provides a guest post with his prediction for the trends of 2008. He focuses on sans serif typography and even cites Meta as a popular choice for the coming year. While I enthusiastically agree with him, I think Meta Serif is going to surprise everyone with its surging popularity.

A great '08!

I really need to hang out with some new friends, because conversations with my current friends don't go like this:

"Last night, after the clock struck pumpkin time, conversation turned, as it often does, to handwriting and type design. Who's a continuous stroke 8 writer? Any snowman-style two circle drawers? Should the bottom and top circles be the same size, or should the bottom orb be bigger? What shape should the counter be: perfect circle? Tall oval or fat oval? Tear-drop? And thus, the search began."

Head over to the Chicagoist and let them know what your favorite 8 is.

Oh yeah: Happy New Year y'all!

i love typography

One of the fantastic things to come out in 2007 for designers (or anyone really) who love type is a blog called i love typography. For one, it's beautifully designed. Second, it's a phenomenal unbiased resource for typography developments around the world. Sure one can go to Veer's Ideas, the FontFeed, and Show & Tell but since they all sell fonts, it's a good guess they'll mostly focus on stories about the fonts they sell. There's nothing really wrong with that as it's expected and I know I'll get good info on their respective fonts at their respective sites, however an unbiased resource is a great thing to have.

This already impressive site by John D. Boardley contains book reviews, tutorials, font reviews, interviews... many things that a type lover would want to have in one place, and now we do.

Thanks for the site John.