Comments on: The Trouble with Typography

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:33:27 +0000

Daniel: Until a little while ago Apple actually had a page on their website that suggested Fontbook would eventually be able to act as a shopfront for fonts similar to iTunes. I can’t find that page now, so I’m assuming the idea has been shelved. I’m wondering if typeface foundries proved even more stubborn than the record companies when it came to discussing distribution.

Mike H: There has been a lot of weird stuff going on with the more well established typefaces lately too. Big places like ITC and Monotype have been buying up similar versions of typefaces they own, scrapping them and then issuing vast expensive ‘new cuts’ of said typefaces. Berthold and Linotype seem to rerelease typefaces like Univers and Avenir every few years milking them for all their worth (and a lot more).

These massive and expensive packages only really cater to a minority of big agencies who can afford to upgrade their type libraries on a regular basis. There’s a much wider market out there ready and willing to boost their profile and hence, sell more units.

By: Mike H

Mike H — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:07:06 +0000

It takes a long considerable time to create a typeface that will used permanently and become one that is used on a regular basis. I feel for most designers, a package of the most essential, innovative and original faces is a good solution. We are faced with the issue of many great faces costing the same as what you would pay for a design book or other materials you may need more important for a working project.

The idea of embracing bespoke typography is good when and if needed for a certain project. Then, there is a connection between it and the content or context.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:09:05 +0000

I’d gladly pay £15 for a bitesize pack, and then perhaps pay for upgrades if I need to do anything a bit fancier.

It does surprise me that typography has yet to catch on to the whole “about the price of a CD” unit of currency.

I’m sure deeps in the bowels of Apple HQ there’s somebody working on an iTunes-esque font shop/management utility. Perhaps they could even sell typefaces by the character – 79p each perhaps…

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:30:52 +0000

The issue becomes would you rather see a piece of trash design set in your typeface (therefore enhancing said ‘trash design’) or have it set in Arial, Century Gothic or Impact? Having said that, there does seem to be a growing trend for bespoke typefaces that only live for the course of a certain project before disappearing into the ether. So it’s probably more like Bitesize, Pro and Bespoke. I have to admit too that I originally wrote this I had in mind many of the classic typefaces that are milked for all they are worth by the big type foundries like Futura, Akzidenz and similar typefaces.

By: Liam

Liam — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:11:34 +0000

very very well said 100%, couldn’t agree more. There is however, i think a flipside to be made about the bastardization of many nice unique fonts; if they were easily put in the hands of the hack designer photoshop monkeys you speak of. As a designer who enjoys creating his own typefaces, i am reluctant to share/sell my fonts. I fear that some day i will be browsing the web or walking down the street and finding some piece of trash design with my name all over it. Perhaps an issue of too much pride.