We were Rock Stars!

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Last night John and I gave an hour long presentation at the Madison Area Technical College (MATC) on "How to make and market a Font". On John's last photo shoot John mentioned that I was a type designer. A woman from the local agency doing the shoot said that she also taught at night at MATC, was teaching a Design Fundamentals class, they were studying type at the moment and would I like to come and speak.

I agreed to do this because I have only met one other person who makes fonts and I thought I had something interesting to say.

On Monday after choosing Thursday night to speak and after having company Tuesday and Wednesday I remembered that I don't just get up and talk (you can tell I don't do this often) I need a plan. So at 4pm on Wednesday John and I started to put together a 25 slide Powerpoint presentation.

So last night we did it and I think it went well and we were interesting. John introduced us, I talked about the creative side, he explained the technical side and I talked about how I market.

John has always wanted to teach. He would really like to teach 3rd grade. But he might enjoy teaching a broadcast class of some kind. After the teacher asked if she could give our name to the other people who teach design classes so we may be invited back to do our little presentation again.

(Terry can you believe I did this?)

Ruling Writer Pen

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I just got these intriguing new lettering pens. Many years ago when I was going to school for Commercial Art we all had to buy a drafting set. That set had a drawing pen somewhat like these. (Mary, my guess is that you still have yours?!) I remember hating to rule with those. You put a drop of ink in the well and draw perfect lines. Right. I got these new beautiful pens to create some new lettered alphabet fonts. But I'll be working on a textured watercolour paper so the desire for a perfectly ruled line will be gone.

I am planning on using these on the first snowy day. I'll move up to the 12th floor and work there watching it snow with a cup of hot chocolate.

If any of you are also interested in these pens go to Paper & Ink Arts. They are of a lovely quality, all shiny and the ruling writer has a nice weight to it. The other one was a nib only. I didn't realize it didn't come with a pen. But I actually had a pen holder from my school days and even had it in the apartment. I continue to be amazed at the odd things that moved with us.

1000 Fonts

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1000Fonts—uniquely—organizes fonts into categories by the major aspects of function. Each font is marked with icons that identify its salient and supplementary features, with cross-references to direct you toward viable alternatives. The book also includes a wealth of iconic examples of fonts in action—creating an accessible tool that is the fastest way to find a font that functions.
Bob Gordon is senior lecturer in graphic art and design at the University of Brighton, and is the author of Making Digital Type Look Good (Ilex).

I have had the great fortune to be asked to have my font Party Doodles in this book. Needless to say, I am thrilled.

It's a small, small world

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I just noticed that so far this month I have sold fonts to people in....
Tiawan UK Germany Mexico Spain Canada Denmark Sweden Australia

I know this shouldn't surprise me but for some reason it does. Probably because I work from home, live in Wisconsin and do not have a global life.

If you like type the way I like type...

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Then you must check out this virtual date tool to choose your date by type styles. You can also go on to figure out which type style you are...

It came as no surprise that I was Helvetica.

I exemplify the modern urbanite. I am a minimalist in style, committed to "clean lines" and restaurants with names in all lowercase. I aspire to live in an urban loft, and when the lease expires on my Jetta, I plan to get a Prius. Each time you fly, you have someone plan a tree to offset my carbon footprint. Yet, I smoke like a chimney, because it's "Hollywood."

I don't smoke and if you substitute Miata for Jetta that well, really is me.

A documentary called... Helvetica

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I love documentaries. Last night I watched Helvetica. It was all about the naming and creating of that font. I did not know that it was created 50 years ago. It has always just existed for me. There were great gray haired type designers of the day talking about the creation. Lots of type designers were interviewed about Helvetica and fonts in general and creating type. (For some reason I was surprised and delighted that type designers seemed to be such a quirky group.) I know some people feel it is a cop out to just default to Helvetica. But Helvetica is classic in its design. And good design is good design whether it is over used or not, new or not.

I got the movie from Netflix but know I need to own this. If you are a graphic artist, type designer, or just like type this is a must see.

We were at MOA (Mall of America) yesterday finishing our Christmas shopping. Ran into Urban Outfitters (whose logo is done in Helvetica like Crate&Barrel and JCPenny) and I found a book called Olle Eksell swedish graphic designer. This book fascinates me even though it is written in Japanese and I can't read it. Above are several illustrations, there is also a wealth of great hand lettering. Olle Eksell appears to have had a full life as a graphic designer or in his day it would have been called commerical artist. Samples in this book range from 1918 - 1999. While a few things look dated the majority look like they could be done today. Once again proving that good design is good design. And the bulk of this book except for the Japanese font is done in yes, Helvetica.

And all this great visual stimulation made my new website pop into my head finished. But that is for another day.