First I want to give a big thanks to for the rewriting of this article, which I wrote first in french but the translation was a bit unsound ^^

A Lesson in Typography

I am in love with words and letters. I would like to introduce to you one of my passions:
Typography!

This is too often considered to be secondary by many neophytes.

People are drawn to means to communicate. In the beginning of visual communication history shows us that cave drawings were the origin of written language. Ancients would use symbols and meaning to translate their thoughts and intentions. In time people modified symbols into alphabets among hundreds of cultures. These, “languages” were derived out of primitives such as Latin, which is the basis of linguistic example today.

Typography is a group of techniques that allow the artist to reproduce text. It is also in reference to the text in itself. The definition of typography was largely expanded by the invention of the printing press which was created for the sole purpose of printing the Bible.

The advent of the personal computer was the highlight of typography’s success in as many as hundreds of years because individuals could utilize the pre-built fonts in order to share their thoughts. The art form of digital typography was born. For the first time in history typography was popularized by the mediums that facilitated them rather than the artists that created the means. Communication born out need developed a community whose limitations created text art as we see it today, and the internet. Typography is, “the art of the letter”.

Here are some names of people that have largely influenced typography:

Plantin, Aldo Manuzio, Fournier, Bodoni, Baskerville

And the modern:

Thibaudeau, Audin, Stanley Morison, Tschichold, Zapf and Frutiger

some links about history:
[link] (english)
[link] (french)
[link] (french)


Arguably letters and words are more important individually than a whole image. Words enhance images or detract messages when in combination with other mediums. The impact is in what is said and seen. For me typography justifies itself, explains meaning and makes its own graphic category.


What is the word in an image? What are the importance of the font, the style and the colors? What does it do?

LINKS

Interesting links

[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link] (french)
[link] (french)
[link] (french)


Useful links
[link] possibility to download varied languages fonts
[link] Online tool to compare texts with different fonts

Two web sites for finding the name of a font:
[link]
[link]

Funny link
[link] (a bit mature though)

Inspiration
[link]


Some gems found in the web
[link] amazing flash animation
[link] it’s in italian but it’s beautiful
[link] wonderful work (french)


There was a pretty fun and interesting online software to draw with fonts here [link] but it’s not available now, I hope they will release soon a new version.



BOOKS!

The complete handbook of the typography by James Felici, for any knowledge about the typography, very good book for an initiation with the art of the typography (historical concepts, and typographical rules)

[link] (in english)
[link] (in french)


The thirteenth sign (Le treizième signe) by Xavier Dandoy: delivers on the punctuation, old future and modern, very pretty graphic and poetic book

[link] (only in french)

Typographies by Raymond Gid: subtle aesthetic mixture of letters, thoughts and images

[link] (only in french)

Typographism 2 by Andreu Balius: uses of the typography through 60 graphic creations (explanation of the graphic process and the choice of the typos)

[link] (french)

[link] (english)
The title is a bit different in English so maybe it’s not the same, but it’s the only one I found in English

And one book recommended by ^patgroove
MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer by Hillman Curtis
[link] (in english)


BOOKSTORE
If you live in Paris or the surrounding area I advise you to visit a very good bookshop for graphics and art.

Librairie La Hune
170 bd St Germain 75006.