The last week of February made us think about the future of responsive typography, but also look back at pictograms and hieroglyphs. Nothing like a good history lesson to understand the present and the future, right? Talking about lessons, we came across a great collection of infographics about typography and hurriedly bookmarked it. Typography apps and walks also caught our eye, so the weekend looks exciting too. Without further ado, let the round up begin! Creating Exciting And Unusual Visual Hierarchies This article takes a closer look at layouts containing large or small amounts of type, and explores how it can be controlled in a way that is enticing and easy for all to access. Visually this can be achieved by relying on several things: texture and tone, seeing the designer as reader, combining typefaces, using color, employing multiple types and, of course, using the grid. If you’re just as fascinated by the complexities that can be expressed through typography you’ll enjoy this insightful article. Font Hinting And The Future of Responsive Typography If you’re one of the type designers who suffers from font hinting headache, this should help you cure it. But hold your horses, because hinting might actually provide the essentials for truly responsive design, and vastly expand the possibilities of digital typography for designers, publishers, and readers. Read on and you’ll figure it out. Is My Type Stressed? A Primer on Stressed Typography First of all, where you aware of the fact that typography can also be… stressed? Because the following article delves into this concept.  They’ll walk you through exactly what types of typographical stress are and how you can ensure it doesn’t affect the readability of your designs. 10 Infographics That Will Teach You About Typography This a great first lesson in typography and design. It will feed you tons of visualized information. A roundup of infographics which will help you discover new and interesting things, as well as reinforce and reiterate stuff you already know about typography. Definitely a good post to bookmark for future reference. Now, ready, steady, visualize data! Prototyping Responsive Typography Pictograms. That’s how it all started. But you’re probably aware of the fact that the history of typography dates back about 5,000 years when a series of pictograms evolved to hieroglyphs in Egypt and later around 1,200 BC to Phoenician alphabets. Believe it or not, many of the basic concepts of typesetting are still the same as 500 years ago. Read this article and you’ll find out more about (yet again) "responsive typography," and universality as a design principle. Probably the core principle behind all the work we do. Exciting read. Top 25 Typography Apps For iPhone And iPad It was a matter of time before using mobile devices to create typefaces and play font-related games. That’s what these 25 typography apps for Apple devices do. Since the weekend is round the corner, browse through this collection of essential typefaces and fonts apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Some say they can make your type-oriented life a little easier and in some cases even more fun. Let’s see! Typography Walks And Workshops For Font Fanciers For those passing through or living in London, take a look at this upcoming series of Type Tasting events. Yes, these are workshops and events for people who get excited over fonts, letters and typography. The events start this month, and if you’re interested follow them on Facebook or join the mailing list. Have a great typographic walk and an inspiring weekend!

It’s Monday, but we’re in the mood for film festivals. Sometimes it’s just film festival posters, or logos, but we blame the types genie for this. There are those festival logos we’ve been seeing for decades, and there are rather obscure festivals (and logos) but equally intriguing in typographic terms. That’s how we decided to put together this motley collection and get a taste of several different approaches. Some logos just force us to hit the couch and grab a bag of popcorn every time we see them. Some leave us quite indifferent. So, let’s browse around and see if the promoters made the most of typography to have us hooked on films for days in a row, regardless of long queues and pricey tickets. By the way, when was the last time you ended up staring at a film festival logo?  

Do you know those goodie bags they give to all the nominees at the Oscars? Probably not, unless you were nominated. In which case, well done! But we thought we should follow this tradition and come up with our very own kinetic typography goodies bag. When you’ll rummage through you’ll find tutorials, inspiring videos, and inspired reads. Some of you might ask, OK, but what is kinetic typography? Etymology makes it easy, as ‘kinetic’ comes from the Greek kinetokos - relating to, characterized by, or caused by motion. So, kinetic typography is the technical name for "moving text", an animation technique mixing motion and text to convey or express ideas or emotions using video animation. As expected, this technique is very popular in movie title sequences and credits, web page animation and other entertainment media. Talking about film titles, we found a website equally appealing to typography fans AND film buffs: The Art of the Title which is an online compendium and leading web resource of film and television title design from around the world, many of which feature kinetic typography. Recently they put together 50 years of main title design for James Bond films, which perfectly illustrates the strong typography - film titles relation. For those new to the trade, but already excited about kinetic typography, here you have 2 tutorials that should put a spring in your step. One is in 6 steps, the other one in 22 minutes. Good luck! For music fans, kinetic typography has its own special place, as you can also visualize the words you enjoy so much. A bit like a smart, great looking karaoke. Take this Tom Waits, for instance. It makes sure you get the messages, imprint the words in your brain while getting a pretty good idea about what the artist was saying. Also, don’t miss the clip for "Dream," by the French band Husbands. This is a lyric video in the purest sense, making use of a variety of typefaces, and spacing them out in a pleasing way on your screen. But we’ll not spoil the real surprise. Take a look! Other people use kinetic types to express their love for… Minecraft, to advertise the launch of the Turkish edition of The New York Times in 60 seconds of typographic goodness, mastered in 2K. Or just to pass an exam. If you’re really hooked, then you should subscribe to this Vimeo channel dedicated to Motion/Kinetic Typography and learn a bit of German while browsing through this Manifest of the moving scrip. Last, but not least, feast your eyes with this Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography Language. If you haven’t seen it yet, better dig in. A bit of Adobe, a pinch of Flash and Illustrator, and an awesome essay on language = highly enjoyable material. It manages to capture the strong connection between words, typography and their beauty in all shapes, sizes and mediums. You don’t get over 1 million hits just by animating words, so the spoken word is essential here too, and, frankly, quite hard to resist. Enjoy! And don’t forget to let us know what moves you.

This week was… sweet. Yes, that’s the word. With all these articles about chocolate and typography, we just couldn’t keep our hand off the sugary treats. Among other things we took a crash course in anatomy (of web typography!), wallowed in tutorials, fell in love with a typo-classy-workspace, played with word animals and so on. But enough about the joys of typo desserts, let’s just dig in! 80 Top-Class Typography Tutorials Here’s a post you should bookmark right away. It gathers together 80 of the best typography tutorials from around the world. Learn how to design a headline typeface, create isometric 3D lettering, smelt your favorite font and much more. You’ll definitely find something that can help you raise your type skills to the next level. The Anatomy of Web Typography This article takes a closer look at the elements of typography which are important to web designers, focusing on two essential aspects: those which influence your choice of typeface and those which you can manipulate. And it all makes perfect sense when you’ll be able to articulate (to clients, or team members) your typographic opinions and decisions. Important stuff, read on! Infographic Of The Day: Why Should You Care About Typography? Typefaces function in different ways, and typography is a constantly moving discipline under pressure from aesthetics and technology, and this infographic tells this story. It does a pretty good job laying out the basics of typography, such as the common types of faces, ranging from regular to condensed, and the anatomy of letterforms. Surprising and insightful. Should come in handy. Word Animals Typography This delicious intermezzo is a new project called "Word Animals". The images speak for themselves. Good opportunity to practice your French too. Just, you know, enjoy! A Former Factory Redesigned To Become A Typography-Themed Workspace We simply want to move in this former 125-year-old lima bean factory, located in Old Town Irvine, California, because graphic designer Ty Mattson transformed it into an awesome office space. All the typographic and graphic design details make it a visual delight for the people working in it. How we envy them. How about you? Chocolate Meets Typography In These Delicious Typefaces Design Taxi really made us daydream and drool over types this week with their posts on… chocolate and typo-themed workspace. Back to sweet types now, because designer Rosa de Jong has created some delicious typefaces with her ‘Chocography’ letters. She uses hand-cut plastic molds to create edible typefaces in Helvetica, Rockwell and Baskerville. Bon Appétit! Web Apps and People that can Help You Identify Fonts If you can’t instantly identify an attractive font you come across, no worry, the web can help. And this post compiles a list of websites and people that can lend a hand. Good luck! 10 Typography Trends for Web Designers in 2013 This is a rather personal account of typography trends in 2013, but it’s well-structured and it provides a great starting point for a discussion about what this year has in store for us typography wise.  So, what are the new typography trends that you’re especially looking forward to? Have a carefree weekend!

For procrastinators, choosing an ongoing competition is a great opportunity to start and (mainly!) finish a project, because deadlines keep us moving in the right direction. Or a direction, which is better than no direction. Needless to say, a competition is also a smart way to get your work noticed by professionals who can become your future colleagues, employees, employers, sponsors, groupies, and so on. In today’s post we want to save you some time and give you a few suggestions of relevant typography competitions. We start with three annual competitions, and next Monday we’ll add more to the list. Here they are: Type Directors Club The Type Directors Club (TDC) in New York City has been holding an annual competition for the best use of type in graphic design since the 1950s. So, even if you have missed the deadline this year, there’s always next year. You can take part in two main categories: Communication Design or/and Typeface Design. Participants need to enter original typefaces or professional / student work designed in the previous year. Before you start working on it, make sure that you also check the rules, the fees and the previous winners for some inspiration. Typography Competition There’s plenty of time to enter this juried competition which celebrates the best use of typography as the primary visual element in design and advertising, plus new typeface designs, calligraphy and handlettering. Any typographic project first printed or produced from September 2012 through September 2013 is eligible. Talking about ‘important exposure’, it’s good to know that the selected entries will be distributed worldwide in the Communication Arts Typography Annual and on commarts.com. Winning should place you in the highest ranks of your profession. Give it a try! Typography Day 2013 Poster Contest Typography Day is organized for the sixth time in 2013 at the Department of Design (DoD) at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati in collaboration with other centers and institutes. The event took place this past weekend and featured a day of workshops on Typography and Calligraphy followed by two days of conference dedicated to display typography. This year’s theme for the poster competition was "Between the Lines". A big plus is that participants can use their native script and language, calligraphic or digitally created letterforms or existing fonts, or a combination of these. Winning entries are published and displayed in an exhibition during the event. Also, there is no entry fee and anyone can take part. Keep an eye on in the coming year! If you still have second thoughts about getting involved, then maybe you should imagine how proud your CV will parade around with that handsome ‘awards and competitions’ shiny section. Talking of which, what do you make of competitions? Have you recently taken part in one? Do you have any recommendations? Looking forward to hearing from you. But don’t forget: Get involved!

There is this blog, Broadway Typography, that brings together the two passions of its creator: typography and musicals. That’s when it hit us. Actually, stage musicals rely on typography quite a lot when it comes to promoting themselves. Those words need to ring tunes in your head the moment you make eye contact with them, right? Many productions keep the same typography for decades and use it in every country the show runs. Some are iconic and almost as famous as the main theme tunes. Whether on London’s West End or New York’s Broadway, ‘Lion King’ will keep its yellow types close, ‘Rock of Ages’ its glam rock look, ‘Chicago’ its red glitter types, and ‘The Book of Mormon’ its grey, black and white austere feel. We put together 15 stage musicals that are still singing around. So, do they make you burst into song? Maybe dance? Or just design? Any favorite types? Or musicals?        

Life’s been pretty good this week, like a long preparation for the weekend. It just happens that in our virtual strolls we’ve come across films, books and vintage cards. No worry, they’re all related to our beloved typography. And all one click away. Here we go: Three Typography Films You need to Watch You’ve probably already noticed that there seems to be a lack of documentary features about typography. So did the authors of this article, who found three great documentaries that feature typography not only as an element of design, but as a passion and source of inspiration for those who practice it or just enjoy it. If you’re looking for creative and typography-focused feature films, look no further. Chair-Themed Typography For Furniture Fetishists A chair, probably the last thing you’d think that has anything to do with typography. I bet you never expected an entire alphabet made out of them. Or, did you? Long story short, designer Tim Fishlock has put together this Typeseat print where each letter is represented by an iconic 20th century chair. He explains everything. Read on. A Guide That Matches Beard Styles With Their Typography Soulmates What’s the normal topic of conversation after chair typography? Well, beard typography, of course. German designer Christian Goldemann expresses his love for both beards and typography with this Typography Beard Guide, which pairs famous fonts with their "best beard brother". We can only ask again: What do you think—should the Handlebar really go with Didot? Typography inspiration | #689 This is today’s intermezzo (From up North!): stunning designs primarily made with words and letters. Enjoy! 15 jQuery Plugins To Improve Typography Here you have a collection of jQuery typography plugins that should help web designers get better control over their websites for web typography. We are assured that these plugins will help you manage your webpage’s typography in a really… nice way. Wait no more, start enhancing the typography and add awesome effects. Check them out and pick the ones that you like the best. 20 Best Typography Books Every Designer Should Read If you’re a designer anxious to improve your craft, a good way to achieve this is to study type too. Step one: buy some typography books. Whether you’re already a font aficionado or can’t tell the difference between Times New Roman and Arial, this collection of typography books will introduce you to the basics of typography and, some say, it should give you a greater appreciation of the typefaces that surround you every day. Sounds promising. Vintage Typography Cards How do two designers congratulate each other on their birthdays? Not really sure, but this set of Vintage Typography Cards from Princeton Architectural Press, designed by Elana Schlenker might do the trick. The type has been lifted from vintage typographic manuals, and ranges from one-of-a-kind hand drawn samples to early twentieth century favorites. Joy! And don’t forget to have a inspiring weekend!

We’re back! We have found more competitions that will help you flex your creative muscles and, hopefully, win some cash or kudos. Or both. A capital city and a sticker need your skills, while design students can win a life-changing professional experience. Here’s what we’re talking about: SPD Student Design Competition Here’s something pretty exciting for enthusiastic greenhorn designers. SPD (The Society of Publication Designer) is an annual professional competition for students. With this one they try to find the best editorial design out there. The great thing is that you can enter as many… well, entries as you like. There are categories, rules, cash prizes, Adobe software and an exciting summer internship at a top NYC magazin summer internship. You can also have your work published in the SPD Annual along with all the professional winners. Get ready for next year now! And don’t forget to check out all the details. The Canberra Centenary Typeface Design Competition This is a one-off international competition that comes from Australia. You need to create a versatile and usable new typeface, to be employed primarily in headlines and sub-heads that reflects the style, spirit, prestige and character of the city of (drum roll) Canberra! Further research is needed, but the whole experience sounds like a great challenge. Your entry will need to comprise a full English alphabet, in upper and lower case, bold, light and regular, (medium) fonts plus a light italic. It should also include common English punctuation marks i.e. question, exclamation, quotation, semi colon, colon, stop, comma; brackets and general typographic marks such as ampersand, asterisk, hash, @ and percentage marks.  You know, the usual. The deadline for receipt of entries is 5.00 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) July 14th 2013. So, plenty of time. What happens if you win? You will receive a handsome AUD $10,000. Good luck! ‘Youth Is Wasted On The Young’ Stussy Sticker Design  More from Australia! Stussy are giving bubble artists the opportunity to design a fresh type for their tag line "Youth Is Wasted On The Young". The winning design will be produced into a skateboard sticker that will be distributed exclusively in General Pants Co stores as a gift with every Stussy purchase. You must think "strong, bold and vibrant" typography, sticking to their skate heritage from the ‘80s and ‘90s but with your original twist. A word of advice: think outside the comic sans square! What’s up for grabs? An exclusive skateboard sticker, 500 stickers of the ‘Youth Is Wasted On The Young’ design, plus the opportunity to print 1000 stickers of another design produced by Stussy. AND $500 Stussy wardrobe. But check here for details. Fingers crossed!

Who doesn’t like the playful types introducing a Disney classic, a wacky South Park musical, the latest Tim Burton extravaganza or the Pixar array of cuddly characters? As you sit there, filled with expectation, what do the types tell you, besides conveying a piece of information, of course? Are they as important to the production as the types in the titles of stages musicals, for instance, or just an extension of other design elements? As we reminisce about the past and… the present, we slalom through animated features which made/make history. But did they make an impact in typography too? Or they simply do their job without stealing the thunder? That’s for you to decide. We can only hope these examples will inspire you in your future animated projects. Here we go:  

It’s our Friday round-up, that time of the week when we look back at the articles and types that caught our eye, stirred our imagination, taught us something new, made us smile or laugh out loud. Here’s what we stumbled upon: Coming Soon: A Monotype Exhibit Tracing The Roots Of Modern Typography Meet the Monotype Corporation! It was founded back in 1887 when typesetting actually involved setting type. They are behind some of the most important 20th-century fonts and this May the company is giving it the next best thing: a sweeping exhibit called Pencil to Pixel. The show will include artifacts from more than a hundred years of designing type, ranging from original hand drawings of molten metal faces to their first bitmap designs. And other similar treats. Pencil to Pixel will be free but will require a reservation. A must for type fans who happen to be in town. ‘Font Nerd’ App Challenges Typography Geeks To Identify The Type All those who love typography, raise your hands! Denmark-based graphic designer Andreas M Hansen made an app just for you. ‘Font Nerd’ puts users aptitude for spotting typefaces to the test. It just presents the typeface that’s up for guessing in witty questions— of which users can opt to see the whole alphabet, and have to guess or choose among options for the right answer. Typophiles, check out for details and let the games begin! Typography Project Reimagines Rock Bands As Fonts Jim Billy Wheeler  is from Bristol. He just wanted to combine his love of music and design into one crowd-pleasing project. Since this is an ongoing project, Jim will continue to post up the rest of the music-related alphabet over on his Facebook page. Cute creatures, great soundtrack, inspired types. Enjoy! Our Favorite Typefaces of 2012 In this one, smart and articulate font users and makers select their favorite release of last year. The general conclusion: 2012 was a strong year. Browse around! Improving Readability With Proper Typography What would content be without readable typography? Pretty pointless. Some of the rules and principles that became standard in achieving readability and typographical beauty are discussed in this article. Most of them are based on T. Kaikkonen’s Interactive Guide to Blog Typography. Useful read. Take a break and enjoy it. Entertaining Typography of Famous Scientists’ Names Inspiring series of typography graphics honoring some of the most famous scientists that have lived. They were created by Mumbai-based graphic designer Kapil Bhagat in light of National Science Day in India. Don’t miss Newton’s apple and Galileo’s telescope. Mixing Typefaces: Tips and Techniques If you think that mixing typefaces can be on of the most rewarding, but also trickiest parts of the design process, this article is for you. Good luck with creating the perfect pairing of typography! Have a great weekend and don’t forget to tell us what other great reads you came across this week.