A Letter from the Editor
Fonts In Use will catalog and examine real-world typography. Our effort begins with this blog, a prologue of things to come.
Much of design critique is focused on photography and other graphics. It’s time to shed light on the most basic element of communication: the type. At Fonts In Use we’ll catalog and examine real-world typography wherever it appears — branding, advertising, signage, packaging, publications, in print and online — with an emphasis on the typefaces used.
Our effort begins here, with a regularly updated collection of case studies and trend reports. We’ve invited experts from various fields to comment on how type is used (and misused) in graphic design today. In our first few installments, magazine designer Marc Oxborrow has an emotional reaction to the redesign of Bloomberg Businessweek, the Font Bureau’s Sam Berlow notices that the type specimen has become a design genre, I point to some recent projects in which type — and especially typeface selection — plays a central role, and instructor and historian Indra Kupferschmid reminds us that the real Bauhaus wasn’t all geometric and experimental letterforms.
This blog is a prologue of more to come. Behind the scenes, we’re building a searchable, shareable archive of typographic design, indexed by typeface, industry, and medium. And you’re invited to join us. Stay tuned.
17 Comments on “A Letter from the Editor”
An inspired idea. Very excited about this. Is there an RSS feed?
Thanks! The RSS link is in the footer.
Absolutely love this idea. Bookmarked!
I guess Type Tide has been replaced, huh? Beautiful website, really informative articles, great job guys!
RSS and Twitter subscribed, waiting anxiously for updates.
Not replaced. Amended! This site gives me (and others) a place to add some insight about the typeface or the work. Type Tide is still good for quick snapshots where no commentary is necessary. They can coexist, but expect much more activity over here.
Congratulations to the launch, instant fav! May I request a link to a ‘recent comments’ list, somewhere? That would help keeping track of discussions/additions like this one.
Nice idea. Looking forward to watching it grow and hopefully learning a little more about type in the process.
A link to the comments feed has been added to the footer. For browsers that support the feature, you should also be able to get to it from the RSS button in the address bar. Thanks for the reminder!
Now that’s service! Thank you.
Just to clarify, I had the impression this is a Font Bureau project. It seems much larger. Can you clarify as I (and others) are sharing the main link and want to be accurate.
Hi Adam. While we are thrilled to have the support of Nick and Sam of the Font Bureau, Fonts In Use is an independent venture. We welcome other contributors, including other type makers and suppliers, to get involved. In the coming weeks we’ll elaborate on that and formalize the ways people can participate.
Finally something like this came up online. I envision it as a powerful learning tool in many GD school all over the world. Absolutely beautiful work! Please do not stop.
This site itself is a great example of typography on the web. The archive of type use is an added bonus. Really nicely done!
A question: what if followers could submit to you some interesting examples?
Hi Fabio. We welcome submissions.
I love this site. Thanks for building it. I really think it can become a great resource for study.
Great site, i just discovered it and it's already in my bookmarks. Keep expanding it and i'm sure it'll become one of designers' favs from all over the world!