Comments on: Danger: falling fonts http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/09/danger-falling-fonts/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:12:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Kerri http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/09/danger-falling-fonts/comment-page-1/#comment-202 Kerri Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:04:05 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=1167#comment-202 Coincidentally I just watched the independent film Helvetica by Gary Hustwit. (www.helveticafilm.com) There were quite a few opinions on this face of course, but some general "typeface" comments were particularly interesting. The typographer and designer Wim Crouwel stated boldly (and I'm paraphrasing here): "Helvetica was a real step from the 19th century typeface. It was a little more machined. It was doing away with these manual details and we were in impressed by this because it was more neutral. We loved neutrality. The meaning is in the content of the text, and not in the typeface." Of course Verdana, Futura and Century Schoolbook are not Helvetica and Mr Crouwel may not have the same opinion with reference to these faces. However, the fact is, some designers are not partial to the emotive qualities of a typeface. Though the real issue here is the "change" of typeface, does this change really communicate a different Ikea message? The content is the same no matter what face it's written in. Yet, it's very obvious some of us are quite disgusted by the departure. Should typography be about the "feeling" a face communicates, or simply a vehicle for displaying information? Coincidentally I just watched the independent film Helvetica by Gary Hustwit. (www.helveticafilm.com) There were quite a few opinions on this face of course, but some general “typeface” comments were particularly interesting.

The typographer and designer Wim Crouwel stated boldly (and I’m paraphrasing here):

“Helvetica was a real step from the 19th century typeface. It was a little more machined. It was doing away with these manual details and we were in impressed by this because it was more neutral. We loved neutrality. The meaning is in the content of the text, and not in the typeface.”

Of course Verdana, Futura and Century Schoolbook are not Helvetica and Mr Crouwel may not have the same opinion with reference to these faces.

However, the fact is, some designers are not partial to the emotive qualities of a typeface. Though the real issue here is the “change” of typeface, does this change really communicate a different Ikea message? The content is the same no matter what face it’s written in. Yet, it’s very obvious some of us are quite disgusted by the departure.

Should typography be about the “feeling” a face communicates, or simply a vehicle for displaying information?

]]> By: Eric http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/posts/2009/09/danger-falling-fonts/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Eric Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:39:23 +0000 http://www.sametz.com/roundthesquare/?p=1167#comment-198 The switch still communicates an Ikea brand attribute. Futura represented Ikea's (and their customers') aspirations for stylish modern design. But Verdana will embody the reality of Ikea's low quality and anonymous, high-volume manufacture. The switch still communicates an Ikea brand attribute. Futura represented Ikea’s (and their customers’) aspirations for stylish modern design. But Verdana will embody the reality of Ikea’s low quality and anonymous, high-volume manufacture.

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