Typography Tuesday

Because the world loves social media, and because the world needs more creative typography, and simply because it's darned neato, FontShop has come up with a site called FontStruct.

While it doesn't necessarily roll off the tongue, the combination of the words "font" and "construct" get the point across: this is a site where you can construct fonts. (Or perhaps this is a term for being bludgeoned by a slab serif? As in: "I was FontStruct." Maybe not.) This is what the site has to say for itself:

"FontStruct is a free font-building tool brought to you by the world’s leading retailer of digital type, FontShop.

FontStruct lets you quickly and easily create fonts constructed out of geometrical shapes, which are arranged in a grid pattern, like tiles or bricks.

You create ‘FontStructions’ using the ‘FontStructor’ font editor.

Once you're done building, FontStruct generates high-quality TrueType fonts, ready to use in any Mac or Windows application."

Proof that the grid system is far more versatile than it sounds, and that limitation begets creativity, FontStruct already boasts over 9,340 fonts available for download. Mind you, that's just the number of public fonts, not the total number of fonts created.

Pretty spiffy.

Typography Tuesday

ould this be the best typographic eye candy site ever? Quite possibly. I'm talking about the Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische. If you dig her work you can even use it yourself (just be sure to follow the usage limitations).

Thanks to Death By Kerning for the Hische tip!

Typography Tuesday

Miracle of Miracles! It's Typography Tuesday! On TUESDAY! Wow.

Getting on with it, the final installment of the Typography Tuesday look at alphabet blocks brings us to a fun and highly unconventional set from Xylocopa: the Young Mad Scientist's First Alphabet Blocks.

There are only 5 in the set, but it seems scientifically appropriate to use an Occam's razor approach to the classic toys, particularly when this kind of stunning detail is laser engraved onto each one. So why mad scientist blocks (aside from the fact that their thoroughly cool...)? To quote from their site, "Like many of you, we are concerned about the state of science education in the public school system, especially in the lower grades. Specifically, we have noticed that there is absolutely no training in the K-6 grades that prepares students to become mad scientists." Indeed. Thank you, Xylocopa, for filling the hole in mad science related children's toys.

And while I would not have associated 1800's ornamental type with mad science, the little DNA-like decorations in the letter forms have me convinced. These blocks are undeniably awesome.

Typography Tuesday... well, Wednesday

So I'm still not getting this perfect, but at least I'm getting closer! *Sigh*

This week's post continues along the vein of really super cool letter blocks with three sets from House Industries. House is a prolific type foundry, which produces startlingly beautiful work. I particularly enjoy their alphabet blocks, each designed to not only display a stylish alphabet, but also fit together like a puzzle in a variety of ways. To wit:

Alexander Girard Alphabet Blocks

Neutraface Slab Blocks

PhotoLettering Blocks

*Sniffle*
I'm getting all teary-eyed, their so beautiful.

Typography Tuesday... er, Friday.

Yeah, so obviously I'm still getting a hang of this whole regular posting stuff. To my credit, I was on vacation this past Tuesday, so better late than never, right? And I'm not even into next week yet! How great is that!?

Anyway, the typographic inspiration for this post comes straight from my living room. All over my living room. This is the kind of typography that really hurts to step on. Nonetheless, it is one of my favorite applications of typography: the humble alphabet block.

As for my household, we have the simple, straightforward, inexpensive, ubiquitous (and most importantly, locally purchased) blocks. These are the classic chunks of wood in red, blue, yellow, and green, set in some relative of Clarendon. Ours in particular are Schylling Big Blocks.

But these are one of countless possibilities for block design. There are more possible block variations than there are extant typefaces. So what else is out there?

To begin with, there are the numerous elegant block sets created by German toy maker Lindenwood, under their Uncle Goose brand. When I first saw these things, they made me drool. Honestly. Check it out:

They make so much more than these beauties. They also make a sans serif line...

 

... foreign alphabets...

... and even patterns!

So cool! Check out all the different variations (from Latin-based alphabets to Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Cyrillic, Chinese, and even Braille) at the Uncle Goose Brand Blocks site.

Typography Tuesday

Okay, so obviously my experiment in self-discipline failed initially. I only missed – what – 3 weeks? Let's try this again, shall we?

The other day I was extremely excited to find that Veer added a new type coffee mug to their Merch repertoire. I am already a proud owner of their Helvetica Coffee Mug:

But low and behold, they have done it again! Veer now offers a Garamond Coffee Mug:

Typography Tuesday

Since I have been neglecting this blog in favor of my other – family – blog (and rightly so: family comes first), I have decided to try something new. I am beginning an experiment to see if adding regular features will help me blog more, well, regularly. The experiment will start with a weekly Typography Tuesday post, featuring whatever typographic topic or eye candy I happen to come across. Readers (if I have any), may feel free to send typographic fodder my way if they see something that particularly rocks their world.

So this Tuesday, the featured typeface comes from Veer's Umrella collection. Behold: Phaeton!