1

I can’t help but fantasize that if IKEA had access to Typekit they may not have switched to Verdana.

Jason – you have articulated the blessing / curse of emerging typographic control. As web publishing becomes more “turn-key” (Drupal Gardens, free Wordpress themes etc.) the “everybody is a designer” effect could be an aesthetic disaster. A “Pandora’s box” as you say. However – while similar typographic anxieties arose with desktop publishing in the 80’s (and came true) – In the end a demand was created for trained designers with a strong aesthetic sensibility.

The time is right for this discussion. Your advice is sound. Great Piece. Thanks – db

posted at 12:44 pm on November 17, 2009 by dwntgrnd

2 Context & Meaning

Jason, Thanks for giving some context & meaning to web typography. It’s a grand improvement over the distraction of the new technologies (e.g. @font-face) or the legalities of font licenses.

That being said, would anyone care to make a prediction on the future of typography? I’d love some insight from the alistapart.com crowd.

posted at 01:25 pm on November 17, 2009 by mcritz

3

Thanks for offering a fresh perspective on web typography — as mcritz said, this article hardly mentions the technological or legal issues which largely seem to be dominating the web-typography discussion. As you’ve shown, there are much more interesting subjects than correct @font-face use and font licensing!

That being said, I can’t help but bemoan the fact that many typefaces I would love to use on the web are not yet licensed for such use. Personally, this is one of the issues preventing me from getting truly excited about font-embedding.

posted at 02:37 pm on November 17, 2009 by Kyle Fox

5 Where to research

Great article Jason. This is still something I struggle with (or at least constantly worry about) when choosing faces.

I’ve always found it tricky to find background info on the typefaces I want to use. Can you suggest any resources for finding history or other info? (besides Typedia of course ;).

posted at 03:17 pm on November 17, 2009 by louderthan10

6 All in due time...

@Jason Santa Maria:

Good point. I should clarify: lack of available typefaces is why I’m currently not using font-embedding extensively just yet. It’s clear that foundries are warming to the idea of web-friendly licences for commercial fonts (ex: Axel), and once more fonts become available for web I’ll definitely be making more use of font-embedding.

posted at 03:17 pm on November 17, 2009 by Kyle Fox

8 The best in years ...

This is the best thing I have read on this since “Communicating – or just making pretty shapes” by Colin Wheldon – and the best by far on this subject as it relates to the internet. Thank you!

posted at 03:31 pm on November 17, 2009 by draytonbird

9 Peace Now logo, Israel

Thank you, Jason!
A pairing of Hebrew fonts, very well-known in Israel, is the logo of the Peace Now movement .
The first word, on the right, is “Peace” in Koren font, black; the second is “Now” in Haim font, red.
Created by D. Tartakover in 1978, it is considered a classic design.

posted at 05:55 pm on November 17, 2009 by Itai

10

@louderthan10:

In addition to Typedia (a growing and valuable reference), I would recommend the forums and wiki at Typophile — folks there know their stuff. And, while discussion is occasionally heated between Typophiles who know one another well, everyone has been very nice to me — and very willing to share expertise.

Web designers would do well to join in conversation with type experts.

posted at 05:58 pm on November 17, 2009 by Tim Brown